Overview
- This week a New Orleans council committee approved a package of operational changes and forwarded the measures to the full City Council for final consideration to address rising police overtime and staffing strain.
- Officials propose route and schedule edits that would shorten some parades and shift start or staging points, including suggested moves for the Knights of Sparta and earlier 5:30 p.m. starts for Krewe d’Etat.
- New float and rider rules would require preapproval of throws, cap thrown items at 3.5 pounds, ban tobacco and most glass on floats, bar riders from giving alcohol to spectators, and require safety harnesses and feet-on-floor for riders.
- Enforcement changes include expanding formation windows from two to four hours, stepped-up towing and ticketing of parked vehicles in formation zones, and higher penalties that make certain formation violations misdemeanors with fines set at $1,000 and $2,000.
- Krewes and residents have objected, warning the proposals threaten long-standing parade traditions, could worsen traffic and disrupt prepaid rider arrangements, and the next step is a full council vote that will determine whether the measures take effect.