Cal Poly students and visitors stormed the streets on Saturday morning dressed in festive green outfits for St. Fratty’s Day.
The third weekend of San Luis Obispo Police Department’s (SLOPD) St. Patrick’s Day safety enhancement zone (SEZ) began at 12:01 am on Friday, March 15 and ended at 7 a.m. on Monday. During SEZ, fines for noise violations, unruly gatherings, open containers and public urination are doubled.
On Saturday, the San Luis Obispo Police Department (SLOPD) will enact its new Safety Enhancement Zone for St. Fratty’s Day; Cal Poly students living on Hathway St. have mixed reviews about the block party itself and the city’s policing of the event.
Twenty years ago between California and Foothill Blvd. pepper bullets were fired and tear gas was dispersed into the crowd. What started as a civil celebration turned into a day filled with more than 180 arrests.
After this, the 9.22 ordinance was introduced.
The 9.22 ordinance enforces designated sections of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code and subjects those who violate these codes to double the fines.
This has continued since 2004, but recently residents of San Luis Obispo “have been experiencing some greater impacts from noise of large gathering type calls associated with traditional holiday times such as St. Patrick’s Day and Halloween,” Chief Scott said during the city council meeting on Jan. 9.
To combat this SLOPD has added some changes for this upcoming “St. Fratty’s Day” and Halloween Safety Enhancement Zones.
