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.
Donna Mallard
Daily Journal Staff Writer
