LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities in Los Angeles are reminding people that it is a bad idea, as well as illegal, to shoot guns into the sky to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.

Los Angeles police and the sheriff’s department said in an advisory Tuesday that significant numbers of people are still shooting weapons into the air, despite a campaign to stop the practice.

In 1999, 9-year-old Brian Perez died while playing in the front yard of his home after someone in the area shot a weapon into the sky.

Anyone caught shooting in celebration could have their weapon confiscated and face a felony charge.

In Compton, sheriff’s deputies will deploy technology that can pinpoint gunfire to within a few feet of where the shots were fired.

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