Independence Day by the Numbers

Some legal trivia about the July Fourth holiday.

The Fourth of July calls to mind fireworks, hot dogs on a grill, and, of course, the Declaration of Independence. To commemorate one of history's most famous legal documents, here's a by-the-numbers look at some July 4 facts:

12 of the 13 original colonies adopted the Declaration before the Continental Congress passed it on July 4, 1776 (New York approved it later).

56 delegates to the Continental Congress eventually signed the Declaration, though many may not have done so until August 2, 1776.

25 lawyers were among the delegates.

22 (or more) types of fireworks-related products are prohibited in California, including rockets, Roman candles, and torpedoes.

$50,000 is the maximum fine for possessing more than 5,000 pounds of illegal fireworks (with or without jail time).

And one last morsel, a definition the California Legislature adopted in 2013: " 'Hot dog' means a whole, cured, cooked sausage that is skinless or stuffed in a casing, that may be known as a frankfurter, frank, furter, wiener, red hot, vienna, bologna, garlic bologna, or knockwurst, and that may be served in a bun or roll."

Sources: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Cal Fire Office of the State Fire Marshal, American Pyrotechnics Association, Cal. Health & Saf. Code §§ 12505; 12700(b)(4); and 113807.

#312729

Donna Mallard

Daily Journal Staff Writer

For reprint rights or to order a copy of your photo:

Email jeremy@reprintpros.com for prices.
Direct dial: 949-702-5390

Send a letter to the editor:

Email: letters@dailyjournal.com

Filter by date

Exact Phrase

Not the words

At least one of the words

All the words