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50,000 party animals crash Isla Vista Halloween bash
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Beachside Isla Vista, bedroom for the U By The Slough, otherwise known as the venerable University of California at Santa Barbara, braces tonight for All Hallows Eve, when young revelers from everywhere converge for a mass costume party and open air indulgence. More photos of the Friday night warm-up courtesy of Edhat.com here: www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm
“We could see up to fifty thousand people packed into just a few square blocks,” says Lt. Brian Olmstead of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. “Most are there to have a good time, but unfortunately when you add alcohol, the recipe for danger increases dramatically.” Last year law enforcement made 220 arrests and issued 438 citations. Emergency personnel transported 55 people to the hospital; most were victims of alcohol poisoning. Two people fell off the cliffs, with one suffering serious injuries.
The bulk of problems may be coming from out of the area, but local taxpayers are the ones footing the bill to keep people safe. “The weekend operation will cost the Sheriff’s Department alone nearly half a million dollars. Overall, the price could reach a million dollars when you add in the cost to other agencies and nearby communities,” says Lt. Olmstead.
Due to the danger posed to people and the cost to the community, the Sheriff’s Department will continue its policy of maximum enforcement during the Halloween weekend. Deputies will set up mobile booking units to handle the large amount of intoxicated people who break the law. Underage drinking will not be tolerated. A first time minor in possession of an alcoholic beverage citation carries a fine of $400. Arrestees can expect to pay between $650 and $1,000 in fines for being drunk in public and $1,600 for a first-time DUI conviction.
“Avoid the 12” will field four extra patrol units with the sole responsibility of keeping drunk drivers from entering or leaving Isla Vista. The extra units will focus on Goleta and the areas surrounding Isla Vista. The Santa Barbara office of the California Highway Patrol also plans a sobriety checkpoint during the weekend. Deputies and UCSB officers, along with Lompoc police officers and state park rangers, will staff the patrols.
Parking will be very difficult, especially for out-of-towners. No parking will be allowed on Del Playa Drive from 3:30 pm Friday until 10:00 am Sunday morning. Del Play and Sabado Tarde Road east of Camino Corto will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6:30 pm-3:00 am on Friday and Saturday nights. Public parking in the city of Goleta will be limited, with many businesses closing their parking lots.
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