| Office of Information and Public Affairs | Washington, DC 20207 |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 3, 2000 Release # 00-137 | CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Dennis Kacoyanis, (301) 504-7587 |
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissionz (CPSC) announced today that Red Rock Trading Co. Inc. and Blackjack Fireworks Inc., both of Las Vegas, Nev., have agreed to pay a total civil penalty of $90,000 to settle allegations that the firms violated both the Federal Hazardous Substances Act and the CPSC's Fireworks Regulations by importing banned fireworks.
CPSC alleges that between December 14, 1994 and May 20, 1999, Red Rock/Blackjack illegally imported for sale approximately 730,000 banned fireworks devices for distribution in the U.S. The banned devices included reloadable shells, jumping jacks, mine and shell devices, bottle rockets, stick rockets, and sky rockets. The shipments that were found to violate CPSC's regulations were placed under U.S. Customs Bond and were not distributed for sale in the U.S.
Banned fireworks can kill or injure consumers by discharging unexpectedly or otherwise malfunctioning. For example, if a firework's fuse burn time is too short, the device can ignite before a consumer lighting it has time to get away.
In agreeing to settle the matter, Red Rock and Blackjack deny CPSC's allegations.
% (CPSC) voted (2-1) (with Chairman Ann Brown and Commissioner Thomas Moore in the majority; Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall in the minority) to impose the penalty. For copies of the Commissioners' statements on this penalty, contact CPSC's Office of the Secretary at (301) 504-7923.