Frequently Asked Questions

"The sale, possession or discharge of fireworks within the City of Bismarck is prohibited, and violators could be charged with a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or fined up to one thousand dollars.” - Bismarck City Ordinance 4-07-06 and NDCC 23-15-01

One question the department often gets is "What fireworks exactly are prohibited?" Anything sold at a fireworks stand, which has to be ignited, including snakes and sparklers, would not be legal in the city. Caps, for a cap gun, on the other hand are not prohibited.

The Fourth of July has become the traditional day for families to watch public fireworks displays, and for some youths to shoot off firecrackers. Unfortunately, this day for celebrating has also evolved into a day for numerous injuries ranging from burned fingers to lost eyesight and even death.

The hazards of fireworks are highlighted each year by accounts of explosions at pyrotechnic production plants or in vehicles during bootleg transport. However, victims of fireworks accidents are usually not the handlers but bystanders, and most often children.

All fireworks--punks, sparklers and firecrackers, Roman candles and cherry bombs--can burn the eyes and even cause blindness. Seemingly harmless sparklers sizzle at temperatures over 1550 F. Heightening the hazards is the tendency of youngsters to throw or toss fireworks in horseplay or to tamper with them to produce a bigger blast.

Other injuries are caused by flying fragments when fireworks devices are placed inside bottles, cans or other containers, and the explosion shatters the container.

Under Bismarck City Ordinance 4-07-06 and NDCC 23-15-01 Sale of Fireworks, this section does not apply to any toy paper cap containing not more than twenty-five hundredths of a grain of explosive composition per cap. Toy paper cap items are often known as bang snaps, throw-downs, snap-its, poppers, pop-its, snappers, etc. As such, a retailer is permitted to sell only the toy paper cap items that contain not more than 25 hundredths of a grain of explosive composition per cap.

The phone number for the jail is (701)255-3113. The jail is located at 4000 Apple Creak Road, Bismarck and is under the Burleigh County Sheriff's Department.

As of 8/1/12 the Bismarck Police Department no longer does fingerprinting the public.

Fingerprint services at the Bismarck Police Department will only be performed when required to be taken by Law Enforcement. 

The Police Department is located at 700 S. 9th St. Bismarck, ND 58504 

Section 39.08.09 of the NDCC requires that persons involved in a motor vehicle crash resulting in the death or injury to any person or property damage to an apparent extent of at least $4,000 combined, shall report the crash to the local law department when the crash occurs within a municipality.

When involved in a motor vehicle crash with an unoccupied vehicle, the driver must either notify the owner of the unoccupied vehicle or contact the local law enforcement.

For reporting tips on a Cold Case if you want to talk to the Detective in charge of the Cold Case Files you can call (701)355-1902, or you can call our Tips number at (701)224-8477 if you would like to remain anonymous.