Mardi Gras Safety Tips
Jan 14th, 2008
As Mardi Gras 2008 gears up for the first parades Friday evening, Mobile police want to emphasize some changes and recommendations for the upcoming festivities.Towed Vehicles
Towed vehicles will be transported to a different site this year that will make it easier for parade-goers to retrieve them. The vehicles will be towed to a temporary impound lot at Water and Monroe Streets. The temporary fenced lot is located between the former Roussos Restaurant and the Mobile Cruise Terminal under the I-10 roadway.
The lot will be open to 11 p.m. each parade night, and those vehicles not retrieved by that time will be moved to the permanent impound facility behind the Mobile Police Department Training Academy at 1251 Virginia St.
Cost to retrieve a vehicle from either of the impound lots is $125. Only cash, debit cards, or Master Card and Visa credit cards will be accepted. Motorists picking up their towed vehicles also must present a valid driver’s license, proof of ownership (registration, a tag receipt, etc.) and proof of current insurance.
Most vehicles are towed because of parking violations. The Mobile Police Department will begin closing streets in the downtown area about one hour before each scheduled parade. Non-parking areas will be designated by signage, including special green and gold Mardi Gras “No Parking” signs along the parade routes.
RV parking on the medians along Claiborne and Canal streets will still be prohibited this Mardi Gras. There will be RV parking underneath I-10 at Canal and Water Streets for a fee, but those spaces are almost sold out. For information on the RV lots, call (251) 467-7038 or (251) 583-2350.
Lost Children
Police this year also are emphasizing that parents make every effort to place an identity card in their child’s pocket in the event that they become separated from each other. The card should provide the name of the child, address, telephone contact numbers and the name of a relative.
In the event that parents and children are separated, the children should be instructed to go to the nearest police officer. Police will attempt to contact the parents and the children will be taken to the downtown mini-precinct at 320 Dauphin St. (251-208-6304) until they can be reunited.
Fifteen children were separated from parents last year.
Parade Information
Citizens are again being asked to refrain from using 911 or the Mobile Police Department’s non-emergency number for Mardi Gras information requests. Those calls should be directed to 311, the city’s information line.
Other safety tips include:
• Attend parades with family or friends.
• A city ordinance strictly forbids glass containers in public.
• Do not follow floats. Violators may be arrested.
• Do not throw any object in the direction of floats, band members, or parade participants. Violators may be arrested.
• Materials known as “Silly String” and “Snap & Pops”, along with similar products are illegal. Possession of any these products may result in arrest.
• Do not cross the barricades. Each officer will be carrying a ticket book and will be issuing citations for the offense. The fine for crossing the barricades is $172.
• If you need police assistance during a parade, go to the nearest intersection and advise a uniformed police officer.
• Please cooperate with all requests from police officers.
• Choose a well-lit area for night parade viewing.
• Establish a post-parade meeting place for family and friends in case you become separated.
• Park vehicles in secure areas and do not leave valuables in plain sight. Utilize the trunk to store valuables.
• The Mobile Police Department will enforce a “no weapons” policy. Persons found in possession of weapons will be arrested. Pistol permits do not allow possession of firearms at parades.
• Uniformed and plainclothes officers will be patrolling behind the crowds to identify and arrest persons engaging in criminal activity.
• Pets are prohibited during the parades downtown.
• Skateboards and motorized scooters are prohibited.