Expand / Collapse search
☰

Homeowner fined $300,000 after officials used drones to find addresses allegedly tied to illegal fireworks

By
Published  October 23, 2025 5:41pm PDT
Stanton
FOX 11
OC city uses drones to crack down vs. fireworks

OC city uses drones to crack down vs. fireworks

Authorities in Stanton, California are using drone technology to crack down against illegal fireworks.

The Brief

    • Stanton officials fined a homeowner $300,000 for 300 illegal fireworks explosions recorded by drones on July 4.
    • Eighteen homeowners, fined nearly a million dollars in total, plan to contest the penalties.

"I wasn't even home," says a Stanton homeowner who just got fined $300,000. 

City officials say they recorded 300 explosions of illegal fireworks at the man's home on July 4.

The video is from drones the city is using to fight illegal fireworks.

"One thousand dollars for each explosion," explains Mayor David Shawver, who adds the city sent out warnings months in advance.

Eighteen homeowners were fined a total of almost a million dollars, and all are planning to fight.

Stanton officials say the drones are used only for the fireworks program, not law enforcement. They don't even plan to use the drones on New Year's Eve.

StantonCrime and Public SafetyOrange County