The San Luis Obispo Police Department enacted its annual safety enhancement zone on Sept. 17, doubling party and behavior-related fines through Sept. 30 as students move into on-campus residences.
For students, it could mean hefty fines ranging from $700 to $1,000, including fines for noise, possession of open containers, unruly gatherings and urination in public are doubled, according to the city’s website.
Each year, the city limits of San Luis Obispo enact a period of double fines from 12 a.m. the first day of Cal Poly’s Mustang Move-In through 7 a.m. Monday following the first full week of the school year, according to San Luis Obispo Municipal Code 9.22.040.
SLOPD public affair manager Christine Wallace told Mustang News that the safety enhancement zone helps preserve the public health, safety and welfare of the city.
“The increased financial penalties during a SEZ have shown to influence how community members make choices, which in turn provide for improved safety for everyone,” Wallace said. “We want folks to enjoy themselves but not to the detriment of themselves or others.”
Double fine periods are also enacted annually during the weeks of Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day to deter disruptive gatherings across the city.
