ATLANTA – Georgia residents will have two less hours to set off fireworks this Independence Day.

Restrictions signed into law in April ban Georgia residents from setting off fireworks after 9 p.m. throughout most of the year. Gov. Nathan Deal signed the law in response to angry residents jolted awake during non-holidays.

The new restrictions also pull back the number of hours fireworks can be used on Independence Day and New Year’s Day.

Fireworks are now allowed until 1 a.m. on New Year’s and midnight on Fourth of July. The measure, House Bill 727, also bans people from igniting fireworks on roads and highways and within 100 yards of a hospital, nursing home and prisons.

Lowndes County officials are also asking residents to be mindful of veterans when setting off fireworks in residential areas. Loud noises reminiscent of gunfire and explosion can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder.