Flares

[Hajukas]

I read the article about overtime flares. Here in Holland it's allowed to light them newyears eve.
So if any of you arrive in holland this year let me know and I'll arrange a placeto drop them so I can pick them up for great fireworks during the party

 

[alldownwind]

Hope I never have to fire off a red flare for real in Holland on New Year's Eve then!!

 

[Hajukas]

Since our wheather is to awfull to sail and our newyearsparties to good to miss, why should you?

 

[Mal113]

I also live in The Netherlands at this time and know nothing about being able to fire off old flares at New Year, even the fireworks you are allowed are controlled in their explosive power. All us expats here in The Netherlands understand it is difficult for the Dutch to stay within the law with regard to fire works and I think this is another example. I will check however, as I have a few old flares.

 

[Hajukas]

Flares and regulations

Dear Mal,

The Dutch law on weapons and ammunitions (RWM=rijkswet wapens en minutie) gives an exception on the prohibition of possesion on firearms (cat III and IV) for owners and crew (in certain circumstances) of boats, yachts and ships (art.14 sub 4 RWM). This exception is for the possesion, not for the use.

For the use the RWM doesn't give rules, therefore you will have to look in the common criminal law(SR= wetboek van strafrecht). There the possesion is not ruled, because of the RWM. For the use the system works as follows:
The forbidden use results in a crime for example threatening (285 Sr) or being guilty for the accurance of fire (158 Sr).
There's no direct rule wich forbids the use of a legal weapon (ic flares, but for knives, sticks, crowbars etc apply the same rules).

There's one but...
For the use of emergency firearms, you need a licence and this will rule out the use in different situation then given in the license (ic emergencies).
Flares are free without a license.
And when using flares whatch out for the possibility of disrupting social order ( titel V book II Sr) or raisng danger with the lightning of fireworks (429 sub 1 Sr)
Further are you right on the use of fireworks everybody here disregards the rules, only in this case that's not necessary.