N'awlins Updates Parade Season Safety Regulations
The city's www.nola.gov/mardigras website will keep visitors and residents informed about the enforcement policies in effect as the season's parades begin rolling Feb. 21.
The city of New Orleans posted an update Feb. 19 on its preparations for the 2014 Mardi Gras season, which is here: The first five parades will roll on Feb. 21, 2014. The city created a Mardi Gras website, www.nola.gov/mardigras, where visitors and residents can find interactive parade maps and get updates throughout the season.
"The 2014 Mardi Gras season is about to kick into high gear, and the city of New Orleans is ready," Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. "City departments have been preparing for months and, together with our federal, state, and local partners, we are excited to once again host the 'greatest free show on earth.' This year, we encourage all residents and visitors to make a plan before heading out to the parades. There are several new regulations taking effect this year that are designed to make Mardi Gras safer and more enjoyable for everyone. Hosting Mardi Gras is a team effort. Let's all work together to make this the best Carnival yet."
The posted update says all New Orleans Police Department officers will work 12-hour shifts throughout the season, ending March 4, and more than 100 officers from the Louisiana State Police are assisting. "The New Orleans Fire Department and New Orleans Emergency Medical Services will also have all hands on deck and are ready to respond to any emergency. Along parade routes, the American Red Cross will be manning First Aid Stations" at four locations, it states, adding that the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will be monitoring all parade activity and coordinating with the National Weather Service, and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter will provide overhead coverage for all parades.
Two hours before the scheduled start of each parade, unauthorized vehicles on any part of a published parade route will be ticketed and towed. The same thing will occur two hours after a parade ends in order to clear the route for cleanup workers.
It states that the city's parking officers will primarily enforce these safety violations:
- Blocking a fire hydrant ($40 fine)
- Parking in a fire lane ($40 fine)
- Parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant on either side ($40 fine)
- Parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk, intersection, or stop sign ($40 fine)
- Parking on a sidewalk ($40 fine)
- Parking on a traveled portion of the roadway ($40 fine)
- Parking within 3 feet of a driveway on either side ($40 fine)
- Parking on the neutral ground and subject to seizure ($75 fine)
- Parking adjacent to the neutral ground ($40 fine)
- Parking in freight/loading zone ($40 fine)
- Parking in a handicapped zone without proper permit displayed ($500 fine)
- Parking at an expired meter ($40 fine)
- Parking in a Residential Permit Parking zone without a permit displayed ($40 fine)
- Parking in the wrong direction (vehicles must park in the direction of travel on one way streets, and with the right wheel to the curb on two way streets) ($40 fine)
- Scofflaw vehicles that have unpaid parking tickets shall be immobilized