With Bonfire Night approaching, Scots may be wise to brush up on the rules and laws surrounding fireworks.
While many have said that fireworks should be banned outright in Scotland, they are still legal to purchase, albeit with a number of restrictions in place.
One of the most notable restrictions is a criminal offence just introduced in October that punishes those buying fireworks for under-18s. It means Bonfire Night 2022 is the first year authorities can slap Scots with up to six months imprisonment for supplying fireworks to minors - on top of a £5,000 fine.
It comes after Dundee riots saw masked teenagers launching fireworks across a main road which led to a response from shielded police officers this Halloween.
As a result, Tesco and Asda stores in Dundee have removed all fireworks from their shelves - however this is a store policy, not a law.
To ensure that you know all of the laws that are currently in place, here is a reminder of the fireworks rules you must follow in Scotland to avoid fines and possibly even jail time.
New fireworks laws
Proxy-buying fireworks for under 18s
A £5,000 fine or six-months imprisonment - and in some cases both - was introduced in October for those who buy fireworks or other pyrotechnics for under-18s.
Former Community Safety Minister Ash Regan said: "These important new powers have been delivered at pace and make it a criminal offence for anyone to supply fireworks or other pyrotechnic articles to a child or person under age 18.
"Fireworks in the wrong hands can cause serious, life-changing injuries or even prove lethal. Preventing their supply - in any way - to under 18s is a wholly welcome step which will bring greater public safety across Scotland."
Attacking emergency workers using fireworks
A separate law was also introduced that aims to protect Scotland's first responders. It means attacks on emergency workers using fireworks will become aggravating factors that can be taken into account when courts sentence offenders.
Regan commented on these new rules, stating: "It's also extremely important swift work has progressed which will see hard-working and brave 999 crews - who work tirelessly to keep us all safe - better protected.
"Any attack on fire, ambulance and police crews is utterly despicable so ensuring courts are required to take into consideration the use fireworks or pyrotechnics as a possible aggravating factor in any attack on 999 crews is a real deterrent to such vile behaviour."
Existing fireworks laws
The new laws come on the back of steps taken previously that aim to reduce criminal activity and damage during fireworks season.
The Fireworks Regulations 2004 act means that using fireworks illegally could land you with a fine of up to £5,000 or a prison sentence of up to six months.
More recently, new laws came into force last year with The Fireworks (Scotland) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2021.
The rules were updated to restrict when fireworks can be bought (7am to 6pm), and the quantity (5kg). Scots will only be able to buy F2 and F3 category fireworks, with F4 pyrotechnics only being available for firework professionals.
It was also made illegal to set off fireworks outside the hours of 6pm and 11pm and midnight on November 5.
There are separate laws which could also impact people on Bonfire Night, for example, setting fireworks off while too close to a dog may be in breach of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
This law states that it is an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to a captive or domestic animal. The offence carries a fine of up to £20,000 and/or six months in prison.
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