DE HB218

Allows sale and use of ground-based and hand-held sparklers (wood stick or wire coated with not more than 100 grams of pyrotechnic mixture) and certain nonexplosive novelty items including snakes, glow worms, smoke devices, and trick noisemakers that are federally regulated.

Restricts sales of these permitted items to persons 18 years of age and older during a 30-day period prior to July 4th and December 31st of each year, with use limited to those two dates only.

Does not legalize firecrackers, bottle rockets, aerial devices, or any other explosive or airborne fireworks, which continue to require permits under existing law.

Maintains existing exemptions for toy pistols and toy guns using paper caps manufactured in accordance with Interstate Commerce Commission regulations, and permits paper caps containing 16 milligrams or less of pyrotechnic mixture at all times.

Penalties for violations are governed by the existing penalty section in 16 Del. C. §6905.