Police outline parade route safety rules

Tri-City area law enforcement officials hope everyone will enjoy the festive parades and parties of Mardi Gras season. But they also want people to conduct themselves responsibly.

“Historically in Patterson, we allow that day for people to enjoy themselves and we’ll continue that,” Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle said. “But keep in mind where Patterson is, we’re zero tolerance here.”

Public consumption of alcohol will be tolerated in Patterson and Morgan City. The drinking of alcoholic beverages will be permitted on the parade route, LaSalle and Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said.

“We don’t enforce it during that one time period,” LaSalle said. “We have a leniency on the parade and a few hours afterward and once that’s over we shut it down. It’s back to zero tolerance.”

In Morgan City, “there is alcohol consumption on the parade routes,” Blair said. “We just ask that they do it responsibly and not to walk the streets with alcoholic beverages.”

For Berwick, the laws will remain intact regardless of the spirited Mardi Gras season.

“We don’t have any special regulations or lax on anything,” Berwick Police Chief James Richard said. “People should be able to understand [that just] because it’s a Mardi Gras parade, it doesn’t mean we’re totally lax on everything.

“Drinking will not be allowed on parade routes and in general.”

One of the biggest concerns everybody has anyway is the alcohol, Richard said.

People walking up and down the street, carrying on and drinking and driving are behaviors Berwick police officers will keep an eye out for.

“We’ll be all over that,” Richard said. “We won’t tolerate that.”

With violent incidents occurring over the past few weeks in surrounding areas, Patterson police officers will be paying close attention to unacceptable behavior.

“I expect everybody to come out and conduct themselves appropriately. Respect everyone,” LaSalle said. “We will be prepared to handle any situation that arises professionally but very much so with zero tolerance, very much.”

Morgan City police officers will be stationed throughout all parade routes, Blair said. If anyone has a problem, the chief suggests finding an officer to report any issues.

Parents are asked to watch their children, particularly “getting dangerously close to the floats and those types of things because we don’t need an accident to happen,” Blair said.

“Keep your children close to you,” LaSalle said. “You’re responsible for them.

“We’ll have adequate people out to caution those who aren’t paying attention to their children.”

Officers want to remind the public to be respectful to their neighbors as they continue to let the good times roll after parades end. Besides excessive drinking, loud music is generally the only other problem during the season.

“The only other issue we’ve had in Berwick is after-parade parties that generally happen at people’s homes,” Richard said. “Sometimes it can get out of hand with the loud music and bands, but just be mindful of your neighbors.”

People are being asked to “refrain from playing loud or vulgar music that might offend people,” Blair said.

Richard recommends that neighbors talk with one another about home activities in order to prevent any sort of interference or potential problems.

All in all, law enforcement officials want communities to enjoy this time of the season in a safe and responsible manner beneficial for everyone.

“Basically … I hope everyone comes out to have a good time,” LaSalle said.

“Hopefully, like last year, everybody will be well-behaved and enjoy themselves so we won’t have any issues,” Blair said.