Mike Piechocinski walked the tightly packed, but organized, aisle of Krazy Kaplans Fireworks in Hammond with his 7-year-old daughter, Savannah, looking for smoke bombs.

The father and daughter duo drove in from Wheaton to shop for fireworks “you can’t get in Illinois,” Piechocinski said, like the kind with bigger smoke and louder sounds.

It would be nice if Illinois sold fireworks, Piechocinski said, but he said he’s used to shopping for fireworks out of state. Growing up, Piechocinski said his family would drive to Michigan to see family friends for the Fourth of July and they would buy fireworks in different stores outside of Illinois.

“I’m just trying to start a tradition with her,” Piechocinski said.

In Illinois, consumer fireworks displays are allowed only in villages, counties and municipalities with ordinances that permit such displays, according to the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.

To operate a consumer fireworks display, Illinois municipal leaders have to attend training, apply for a site inspection and apply for a permit. Once a permit is granted, the municipality can purchase fireworks from a registered consumer fireworks distributor or retailer, according to the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.

Some of the prohibited consumer fireworks include handheld fireworks, bottle rockets, skyrockets, Roman candles, chasers and others.

The Krazy Kaplans Fireworks in Hammond is the first exit off of I-94 driving east from Illinois into Indiana, and it’s across the street from two other fireworks stores — Rock the Sky Fireworks and Cheap Fireworks. Billboards touting the latest deals at Krazy Kaplans and other fireworks stores are common sights along Illinois expressways.

In Indiana, anyone 18 years or older can set off fireworks daily between 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., except certain holidays like the Fourth of July, when fireworks can be set off between 9 a.m. and midnight, according to the Indiana State Police.

Violations of the fireworks law start with a class C infraction, then rise to a class A misdemeanor if someone recklessly sets off fireworks and causes property damage. If any fireworks discharge leads to bodily injury, then charges are enhanced to a level 6 felony. In the event of death, the charges are elevated to a level 5 felony.

Each car parked outside Krazy Kaplans Fireworks in Hammond Tuesday morning had an Illinois license plate.

Matt Sirbas, store manager, said it’s common for Illinoisans to come to Indiana to buy fireworks given their state’s restrictions on fireworks.

“We have some fun things, but not all of them,” Sirbas said of Indiana’s fireworks sales.

This year’s fireworks sales have been explosive, Sirbas said, likely because the Fourth of July falls on a Friday. Throughout the rest of the week, the store will likely see a daily increase in customers and by Friday there will likely be a line of customers waiting to check out, he said.

“It will be non stop, and we will sell out,” Sirbas said.

Dave Comstock, of Des Plaines, stopped to buy fireworks at his daughter’s request, he said. They made the stop on their way to Michigan for the rest of the week, he said.

His daughter — Dana Comstock, of Addison — said she wanted to get fireworks because it’s a fun way to celebrate the Fourth of July. Dana Comstock said she wished Illinois would allow for fireworks and larger fireworks stores so that it was closer to home.

If Illinois loosened its fireworks law, it would allow residents to freely fire them off, Dana Comstock said

“So we’re going to illegally do fireworks,” she said. “Addison has fireworks in the park, but it would be nice to blast them off in the front yard.”

Dave Comstock said Illinois shouldn’t change its firework restrictions and laws.

“We don’t need it. Keep Indiana crazy,” Dave Comstock said.

Shayla Jackson, of Country Club Hills, walked down the aisles periodically making calls to her fiancé and daughter to make sure she was getting the fireworks they wanted.

Her daughter especially wanted the bullet bombs, Jackson said.

“I make sure they get all the little things they like,” Jackson said. “It’s my favorite time of year.”

Jackson said she will host a barbecue for the holiday and set off the fireworks there. She’s been traveling to Indiana for years to buy fireworks, Jackson said, and she typically spends about $400 to $500 on fireworks.

Country Club Hills is about 20 miles from Hammond, Jackson said, so she doesn’t mind making the trip to buy fireworks.

“I actually love coming here to Indiana for fireworks,” Jackson said. “I’m always looking forward to the Fourth.”

When he was a kid, Rogelio Barrios, of Chicago, said he would travel to Indiana with his uncle and cousins to buy fireworks. Back then, he and his cousins would pack multiple carts with fireworks.

This year, Barrios had one cart and he was looking for a few fireworks, he said. His first fireworks pick was a pack of fireworks called Sinister Select, and he was looking for a fireworks variety pack called America.

“It’s more work, but it’s fine because we’re used to coming here,” Barrios said.

Barrios said he wished Illinois would allow for larger fireworks sales other than smaller packs in some stores, which mark up the price.

“They’ll charge you more over there because they bought it from Indiana,” Barrios said.

David Hill, of Chicago, came to Hammond to get better quality fireworks for the family’s holiday barbecue. It would be nice if Illinois sold a larger variety of fireworks, he said.

“It would be just get them something and get it over with,” Hill said.

As Piechocinski loaded his car with a box of fireworks, Savannah nodded excitedly when asked if she liked shopping for fireworks.

“I like the smoke bombs,” Savannah said.

akukulka@post-trib.com