In previous years, the Board was notified of hazardous conditions on the beach leading up to and during July 4th. There have been multiple instances where fireworks have been ignited on our beach leading to near misses, endangering life and/or property. This is unacceptable to the MBA Board and Community, as a whole. The safety of our residents, their guests, and their property has been, and continues to be, our utmost concern.
Fireworks:
In 2018, the State of Delaware amended Title 16 of the Delaware Code (relating to the selling or possession of fireworks). Here is a brief overview of what changed and what did not:
- All aerial fireworks remain ILLEGAL. This is defined as any device that explodes and/or shoots into the air.
- Ground-based and hand-held sparklers (non-explosive and non-airborne) are legal ONLY on July 4, the third day of Diwali, December 31, and January 1 of each year. They are restricted to those ages 18 and older. They remain ILLEGAL on all other days.
Please note that this does not constitute legal advice; we encourage you to review the full text of Title 16.
Cycling/Walking/Crossing DE 1:
On the evening of July 4, 2019, there was a fatal accident involving two bicyclists at the South end of our community.
We respectfully ask and remind everyone of the following:
- When out in the evening, we encourage all pedestrians and cyclists to wear reflective clothing and accessories, and equip themselves with lawful, appropriate, and adequate illumination devices.
- Per Title 21, § 4196, bicycles shall be operated in the right half of the roadway. Additionally, “Persons operating bicycles upon a roadway shall not travel more than 2 abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.”
- When approaching an intersection, we ask that you come to a complete stop and check in all directions for other traffic before proceeding into the intersection.
- We encourage all cyclists to wear an approved, properly fitted and fastened helmet.
- When crossing DE 1, we encourage you to cross in well-lit areas and follow traffic signals.
Vehicle Parking:
As is true during summer, your vehicle must be equipped with a valid and properly placed 2020 MBA Parking Pass in any MBA parking space, as designated on signage.
Per our Towing Policy, please ensure your vehicle is parked fully within the confines of any parking space. Failure to do so may result in the towing of the vehicle at the owner’s expense.
In Closing:
We hope that you will join the Board in keeping the holiday as safe as possible for our residents, tenants, and guests by keeping any legal ground-based and hand-held sparklers close to the water and away from groups of people while avoiding the use of illegal fireworks.
We thank you for your assistance in helping to make this year’s July 4th holiday safe and enjoyable for all.
MBA Board of Directors