With St. Patrick’s Day approaching, San Luis Obispo officials are preparing for increased enforcement and expanded safety measures across the city.
During a Feb. 17 city council meeting, the San Luis Obispo Police Department and Cal Poly presented their coordinated plan for the annual holiday, which has historically drawn large crowds and led to disruptive behavior in student neighborhoods.
City and university officials said they will be taking a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive and illegal behaviors and will be encouraging the students to respect SLO. The plan emphasizes safety, proactive outreach, and maintaining order in neighborhoods and downtown areas.
According to the City of San Luis Obispo, enforcement levels will mirror last year’s efforts, with increased police presence and coordinated strategies between SLOPD and Cal Poly. Officials said they are building on strategies used in previous years, including early engagement with student organizations and neighborhood outreach.
The city will designate several March weekends as Safety Enhancement Zones. The zones will be in effect March 6 through March 8, March 13 through March 15, and March 17 to March 18.
Fines will be doubled for certain violations, such as open container violations, unruly gatherings, public urination, and noise ordinance violations.