Newport Beach heightening 4th of July awareness

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT BEACH -- Police are getting ready for yet another Fourth of

July in the beach city where parties and large crowds are a common sight

on Independence Day.

West Newport Beach residents, who will most likely be affected by the

day’s activities because of their proximity to the beach, will have a

chance to ask police questions relating to laws and enforcement plans at

a 7 p.m. public forum at City Hall tonight.

The Newport Beach Police Department’s most significant move this year

is assigning more officers to foot patrol, Sgt. Steve Shulman said.

“It gives us quicker access to hot-spot areas,” he said. “The most

common incidents we see that day are fights, disturbances,

alcohol-related incidents and fireworks.”

Fireworks of any kind are not allowed in the city.

Few officers get the day off, Shulman said. About 200 officers from

the department, Orange County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway

Patrol will be walking the city’s streets and driving their patrol cars

that day to monitor activities in the city, he said.

Several street closures will also be implemented. Beginning at noon

July 4 until the early morning hours the next day, 32nd Street to

Prospect Street bordered by the beach, and West Balboa Boulevard and

Coast Highway will be closed to inbound traffic.

Also, Seashore Drive between 36th Street and 51st Street will be

closed to all traffic, including bikes and pedestrians. City parking lots

at City Hall, Superior Avenue and Seashore Drive will also be closed

after 2 p.m.

Shulman said officers will be on the lookout for anyone who has or

uses fireworks, people drinking in public, loud or raucous parties and

those throwing water balloons or using squirt guns. People can be

arrested or cited for these offenses, he said.

The majority of calls on Fourth of July come from residents whose

parties get out of hand, Shulman said.

“It starts off with a party of 20 people,” he said. “And within a

matter of time, the party gets bigger, the beer’s flowing, and there are

50 to 100 people.”

The biggest concern each year for police is the fear of a riot

breaking out, Shulman said.

“We want everybody to have a good time,” he said. “But we don’t want

things to get so out of hand that we can’t control them.”

GETTING READY FOR THE FOURTH

The Newport Beach Police Department offers the following tips for a

safe and hassle-free Fourth of July:

* Limit the number of guests you invite. Do not allow uninvited guests

to attend.

* Ensure that no alcoholic beverages leave your property.

* Limit noisy and raucous behavior. Keep your stereo at a low volume

and all speakers should remain indoors.

* Take your party indoors after dark.