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Every 4th of July (and a few days around then), we have neighbors who set off extremely loud fireworks. It’s of major concern because of the effect on our dogs, who are distressed by the percussion. (We used to have a dog who had seizures when the loudest were set off.)

What is the law in the city of Greensboro concerning fireworks? If the neighbors are breaking the law, should we call the police, or is the problem too widespread to be remedied?

— Mike Clark, Greensboro

According to city ordinance:  “It is the policy of the city to prohibit noise disturbances or unreasonably loud noise from all sources, subject to its police power ...”

In general, it is against city ordinance to make “unreasonably loud or disturbing noise,” if it annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the “comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of persons or causes damage to property or business.”

As for enforcement, you probably shouldn’t hold your  breath waiting for an officer on the Fourth of July.

“Typically, we respond to fireworks, and we’ll try to locate the person,” said Capt. Brian Cheek, commander of the city’s western patrol division. But he added that during the Fourth of July, the department is inundated with calls.

“If they have a specific location, we’ll go speak to the person,” Cheek said. “It’s not like we sit around with a task force saying 'We’re going to arrest a bunch of people shooting off fireworks’ because we know they’re going to do it.”