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EVANSTON, Wyo. -- Wyoming residents are upset with how Utah Highway Patrol conducted its Fourth of July fireworks sting.
"They're out of line. They got no business doing it, and we're going to stop it," says Wyoming resident Don Dunbar.
Their job ends at the border. They have no legal authority up here. They're interfering with business.
–Don Dunbar, Wyo. resident
Dunbar isn't alone in his belief. Some Evanston business owners say they also have a problem with tactics used by Utah troopers to bust customers bringing fireworks in to Utah.
UHP, however, says its operation was lawful and that troopers just want to protect Utah residents.
"We feel it's important to enforce the laws in Utah," says UHP spokesman Brian Hyer.
A part of UHP's operation is placing undercover officers in unmarked cars near the fireworks stores. They look for Utahns coming into Evanston only to purchase fireworks and alcohol. Then they'll write down license plates and car descriptions and call troopers who are waiting just across the state line.
"This is not the first year this has happened, and it obviously won't be the last," says Evanston Mayor William Davis.
Davis says he's tried to talk to UHP several times in the past. He says most residents and businesses have a problem with the undercover tactics troopers are using to enforce laws.
"It's really disturbing to our merchants for this to happen," Davis says. "They don't like to think that the cops are spying on them, and obviously they're looking out for their pocket books because they fear that it will hurt the bottom line."
"Their job ends at the border," Dunbar says. "They have no legal authority up here. They're interfering with business."
Off camera, a Pyrocity manager claims to have lost out on $20,000 because of this sting -- nearly half of last year's sales.
UHP says its not trying to negatively impact business; troopers are just doing their jobs.
"All of the enforcement took place in Utah," Hyer says. "[We do it] to protect the people here -- the visitors, the residents -- and to make sure people are safe as best we can."
Hyer says UHP has consulted with Evanston police, along with other agencies, to make sure everyone was on the same page. He says the agency is willing to hear out Evanston's concerns, but its No. 1 priority is enforcing Utah law.
E-mail: ngonzales@ksl.com
