Seaside Police report less citations and incidents for this year’s Fourth of July weekend.

With preventative campaigns and measures, such as closing the Home Depot parking lot in Seaside at dusk over the Fourth of July weekend, local law enforcement agencies including the Seaside Police Department report that this year’s holiday weekend was calmer than years past.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office reported 85 calls for service in unincorporated Monterey County.

Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges says officers made five arrests over the holiday weekend; the majority of those were related to impaired driving.

“While illegal fireworks activity was still present, it was significantly lower than in previous years,” Borges says. “Last year marked the first measurable decline in illegal fireworks activity, and this year we saw an even greater improvement. The days leading up to the Fourth of July were also substantially quieter than in years past, demonstrating that our sustained enforcement efforts, proactive education and strong community partnerships are making a meaningful difference.”

Seaside Police also experienced a reduction in hotline tips and calls for service related to fireworks, Borges says: “These trends reflect the positive impact of our collaborative approach to improving public safety.”

Salinas Division Chief and Fire Marshal Chris Knapp’s team will be reviewing drone footage from the holiday and will tentatively begin issuing citations, starting at $1,500, on July 10. Salinas also offers payment plans and an appeals process; no appeals filed in 2025 were granted and all citations upheld.

In Monterey, no fireworks-related citations were issued, but officers made three DUI-related arrests over the holiday weekend.