MADISON, Wis. -- Special Madison police and fire officers will be on patrol this July Forth weekend but they won't be looking for fires or criminals they'll be looking for illegal fireworks.

In Madison, it pretty much comes down to sparklers when it comes to what's legal in the city and this year if you light up illegally --- you're more likely than ever before to get a ticket.

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Most fireworks are big and beautiful but also illegal without a permit, WISC-TV reported.

But that hasn't stopped people from cramming their shopping carts full of explosives of all shapes and sizes.

Like kids in a candy store, Cesar Sanchez and his relatives loaded up their cart at Cornellier Fireworks in Windsor.

Back home in California, Sanchez said he is unable to get the fireworks he can get in this store.

"I can't stand it…it's like, I want to go blow up stuff right now. This is awesome. This is really cool," said Sanchez.

Tom Twhihg, a 20-year-old from Lake Mills and his friends recently spent hundreds of dollars on fireworks. Asked if he knew if the ones he was purchasing were illegal or not, he responded, "I have no idea to tell you the truth. We just buy it and blow it up pretty much."

They filled two shopping carts full of fireworks that they plan to light off at a relative's home just north of Oshkosh. Their grand total came to over $400/

But not everybody is a fireworks fanatic, especially in Madison.

"Last year we had over 300 complaints to police from people who say it's like living in a war zone," said Lori Wirth of the Madison Fire Department. "Children are scared, pets are scared, people can't sleep, and people can't relax."

Starting Thursday, teams of Madison fire and police officials will patrol Madison neighborhoods, citing anyone who doesn't' know the difference between what's legal and what's not.

Said Wirth, "Anything that goes up off the ground and anything that shoots sparks into the air, you're going to find that that's illegal."

The increased fireworks enforcement relies on work with the city attorney's office to change the fine -- essentially police and fire have lowered the fine in preparation for issuing more tickets.

Last year the fine with court costs for illegal use came to $424 and only 24 citations were issued. This year, the fine with court costs is $172 and that can be for each illegal firework set off, WISC-TV reported.