NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana State Troopers are getting ready for the final and busiest weekend of Carnival 2022. This highly attended weekend will draw large crowds in the French Quarter and surrounding metro area. This will increase traffic in our area, possibly resulting in increased aggressive and impaired drivers on our roads. In an effort to ensure safety on New Orleans area roadways, the Louisiana State Police is partnering with the New Orleans Police Department. Governor John Bel Edwards has committed 100 Louisiana State Police Troopers from across the state to assist the City of New Orleans and the New Orleans Police Department. Troopers will be on assignment in the French Quarter, Central Business District, surrounding roadways and parade routes providing high visibility vehicle and foot patrols.

Troopers would like to offer everyone a few safety tips in order to keep you, your family, and your property safe while enjoying the festivities. The public is encouraged to utilize the City of New Orleans NOLA Ready website at Home – NOLA Ready where information pertaining to weather, parade delays, parade route regulations and Covid restrictions can be found. Parade goers can also text MARDIGRAS to 888777 to receive important parade updates. The website also allows you to track parades through https://routewise.nola.gov/ which also provides locations of public restrooms, first aid stations, and lost children stations. “Routewise” will also display your current location, which will allow you to copy the URL and text your friends and family your exact location along the parade route. Safety tips, transportation impacts and extra Mardi Gras information can be found at https://ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras/.

Personal Safety:

• Know where your children are, and do not allow them to play in areas where vehicular traffic is possible and also during the parades while floats are moving.

• Abide by laws enacted by the New Orleans City Council regarding safety on parade routes:

o Do not block intersections with ladders, grills, etc. These areas need to be kept open for emergency vehicles.

o Ladders should be at least 6 feet from barricades; this prevents a ladder and child from tipping over in front of a moving float and/or onto the roadway.

• Do no cross between floats.

• If you are unfamiliar with the area you will be walking in, pick up a local map or get directions from reliable people, such as hotel personnel or law enforcement officers.

• AVOID vacant areas and dark alleys. There is safety in numbers so walk with someone you know or stay with the crowd.

• Do not flash large sums of currency while in public. This could possibly catch the eye of criminals.

• Carry pertinent information (driver’s license, ID, credit cards, keys, etc.) and valuables in your front pocket. This puts pickpockets at a disadvantage. Avoid wearing baggy pants because they are easier targets for criminals. If possible, connect a chain from your wallet to your belt loop, making it more difficult for the criminals.

• Ladies, avoid carrying bulky purses and wearing expensive/flashy jewelry. Ensure your purse is zipped at all times. This prevents criminals from reaching into your purse. Also, carry pertinent information in your front pocket.

• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption. Remember, the first thing alcohol affects is your judgment. A highly intoxicated person can be an easy target for a criminal.

• Pay attention to your surroundings and limit cell phone use while walking to avoid being distracted from your surroundings.

Safety for Children:

• Once you arrive at your spot on the parade route, have your child identify two landmarks that let them know where they are. This makes children aware of their surroundings from the beginning.

• Make a plan ahead of time of what your child should do if he/she gets separated from you. If there is a police officer nearby, the child should go to the officer. If there is no police officer around, the child should look for a family with small children to ask for help.

• It is helpful to write a cell phone number on a small piece of paper and pin that paper inside of the child’s shirt or jacket in case he/she gets lost. Even when children have a phone number memorized, it can be difficult to remember when the child is scared.

• Notice anyone in the crowd who may be paying a great deal of attention to your child.

• Take your child’s picture with your cell phone before you head out for the day. If the worst thing happens, you can show the police exactly what your child looks like and what he/she was wearing.

• If your child gets separated from you, please utilize the https://routewise.nola.gov/ which will display the nearest “Lost Child” station.

Driving Safety:

• DRIVE SOBER! Prior to enjoying the festivities, make a plan and stick to it! Get a designated driver, take a taxi or have a sober family member or friend pick you up and take you home safely. Also, do not get in the vehicle with an impaired driver.

• BUCKLE UP! Louisiana law requires EVERYONE in the vehicle to be properly restrained. In the event of a crash, the SAFEST place to be is inside the vehicle.

• IF YOU DRINK AND DRIVE YOU WILL GO TO JAIL! Louisiana State Troopers will be aggressively patrolling the roads for impaired drivers.

Parking:

• Pay attention to parking signs and use common sense. There will be limited parking available; attempt to carpool or use an alternate form of transportation.

• Observe the restricted parking areas in and around the French Quarter and New Orleans Arena. Do not block fire hydrants or driveways. Do not interfere with the flow of traffic on streets or sidewalks. This will ensure the safe movement of emergency vehicles / personnel responding to calls for service and emergency situations.

• Following these tips and the parking signs may prevent you from having your vehicle towed or paying a fine.

• Remember to remove all valuables from your vehicle or from the view of the public eye.

• Double check to ensure your vehicle is locked and the windows are closed. Make sure you have your keys. Also, take a look around you and remember where you parked.

• Know pertinent information about your vehicle, such as your license plate number. This will assist you and the police in determining whether your vehicle has been towed or stolen.

• If you utilize a smart phone, place a pin on your parking location, this will aid you in finding your vehicle later in the day.

Please remember to utilize the “See Something, Send Something” app to report real-time activity to the appropriate investigators. The app is found listed as See Send by My Mobile Witness, Inc. and is a nationwide suspicious activity reporting tool for citizens. Both text and/or pictures may be submitted directly to public safety personnel.

Citizens and visitors can also follow Louisiana State Police on our social media pages: Louisiana State Police and twitter.com/LAStatePolice.

Louisiana State Police wants everyone to remain safe, make good decisions, and have a safe and happy Mardi Gras! To report possibly impaired and/or aggressive drivers, please dial *LSP (*577) from your cell phone.