Factor safety into 4th of July fun

New Haven, Connecticut - The upcoming  holiday weekend is the one of the busiest for law enforcement. They'll be out in full force to keep us safe and save lives. But they want us to do our part as well.

Use caution and common sense this 4th of July weekend. From roadways to waterways troopers and local officers will enforce the safety laws in place. And there are new tools in their arsenal. E-tickets can now be generated from computers in cruisers.

"This technology enables troopers to be more efficient in issuance of tickets,” explained State Police Lieutenant J. Paul Vance. “Roadside safety is enhanced as e-tickets minimize the amount of time the troopers and violators must spend on the roadside at the scene of a violation."

There is also a new breathalyzer test with the latest technology to get impaired drivers off the road.

"Impaired driving, a preventable offense, continues to make up for nearly 40-percent of annual fatalities in our state,” said Joe Cristalli with the Connecticut Department of Public Transportation.

When it comes to fireworks only sparklers and fountains are legal in Connecticut.

"It's going to be labeled ‘emits showers or sparks.’ If it says something other than that, like the Roman candle ‘shoots flaming balls,’ it’s an illegal fireworks in the state of Connecticut,” said Trooper Marc Lamberty with the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Legal fireworks, however, are only legal for someone at least 16 years of age.

But trauma doctors say there is no such thing as a “safe” firework.

"You've heard mention of sparklers and even how dangerous they can be,” Dr. Peter Jacoby, Director of St. Mary's Emergency Department, said. “Their heat can go up to over 1,000 degrees F and will cause children to very easily burn themselves, their faces or their hands."

Studies show sparklers cause almost 20-percent of all firework related injuries.

Again, be careful over the 4th of July weekend. Wear that seat belt and don't drink and drive.

Troopers say the goal this holiday weekend is no fatalities.

Click here to find out where to see fireworks displays.