Halloween 2019 Safety Enhancement Zone Designation Downtown Santa Cruz

Halloween is fast approaching. While you are doing your last-minute costume and candy shopping, SCPD is completing our preparations for Halloween Night 2019.

The Santa Cruz Police Department has enacted a Safety Enhancement Zone designation in the downtown corridor for Halloween 2019. The Safety Enhancement Zone begins on Thursday, October 31st, at 12:01 AM and runs through Friday, November 1st at noon. 

The Safety Enhancement Zone includes TRIPLE FINES for certain Municipal Code violations committed in the zone during the designated times.

Annually, Halloween draws large crowds to the downtown during the evening and late night. The police department will utilize over 100 uniformed police officers from the Santa Cruz Police Department and neighboring agencies to staff the event. Officers will be using a proactive strategy to minimize problems and reduce the opportunity for alcohol-fueled problems and inappropriate behavior throughout the night. In addition to the additional officers, there will be increased lighting and portable restrooms throughout the downtown corridor.

Halloween 2019 Road closures and No Parking locations

No Parking/Tow Away zone from 9:00 a.m. October 31st to 10:00 a.m. November 1st on the following streets:

§ Pacific Avenue between Laurel Street and Water Street.

§ Cooper Street between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.

§ Cathcart Street between Cedar and Pacific Avenue.

§ Soquel Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Frazier Louis Lane.

No Parking/Tow Away zone from 4:00 p.m. October 31st to 3:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:

§ Front Street between Soquel Avenue and Laurel Street.

§ River Street between South River Street and Front Street

§ Front Street between River Street and Soquel Avenue

§ Front Street between Water Street and River Street.

No Parking/Tow Away zone from 4:00 p.m. October 31st to 3:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:

§ Locust Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

§ Walnut Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street Parking Garage.

§ Cathcart Street between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.

§ Church Street between Pacific Avenue and Double Decker Parking Garage

Temporary road closures from 5:00 p.m. October 31st to 03:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:

§ Walnut Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

§ Maple Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

§ Locust Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

§ Soquel Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.

§ Front Street between Soquel Avenue and Laurel Street.

§ Front Street between Water Street and River Street.

§ Church Street between Pacific Avenue and Double Decker Parking Garage.

Temporary road closures from 9:00 a.m. October 31st to 10:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:

§ Pacific Avenue between Laurel Street and Water Street.

§ Cathcart Street between Cedar Street and Front Street.

§ Cooper Street between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.

§ Lincoln Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

§ Elm Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

The temporary rerouting of Birch Lane from an eastbound one-way roadway to a westbound one-way roadway will occur from 5:00 p.m. till 3:00 a.m. Signage will be posted at each entrance to indicate the proper traffic flow.

Halloween 2018 Safety Enhancement Zone in Downtown Santa Cruz - Triple Fines - Road Closures - SCPD Preparations

Halloween is fast approaching. While you are doing your last minute costume and candy shopping, the Santa Cruz Police Department is completing our preparations for Halloween Night 2018. We bring in 100+ uniformed personnel, lighting and other equipment to ensure your Halloween is as safe as possible.

To encourage respectful behavior, the City of Santa Cruz enacts a Safety Enhancement Zone designation in the downtown corridor for Halloween 2018. The Safety Enhancement Zone begins on Wednesday, October 31st at 12:01 AM and runs through Thursday, November 1st at noon.

The Safety Enhancement Zone includes TRIPLE FINES for certain Municipal Code violations committed in the zone during the designated times. In addition to the Triple Fines, the Safety Enhancement Zone also dictates road closures and No Parking zones.

Annually, Halloween draws large crowds to the downtown during the evening and late night. The police department utilizes officers from the Santa Cruz Police Department and neighboring agencies to staff the event. Officers use a proactive strategy to minimize problems and reduce the opportunity for alcohol-fueled problems and inappropriate behavior throughout the night.

Halloween 2018 Road closures and No Parking locations

No Parking/Tow Away zone from 10:00 a.m. October 31st to 10:00 a.m. November 1st on the following streets:

§ Pacific Avenue between Laurel Street and Water Street.

§ Cooper Street between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.

§ Cathcart Street between Cedar and Pacific Avenue.

§ Soquel Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Frazier Louis Lane.

No Parking/Tow Away zone from 5:00 p.m. October 31st to 3:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:

§ Front Street between Soquel Avenue and Laurel Street.

§ River Street between South River Street and Front Street

§ Front Street between River Street and Soquel Avenue

§ Front Street between Water Street and River Street.

No Parking/Tow Away zone from 5:00 p.m. October 31st to 3:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:

§ Locust Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

§ Walnut Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street Parking Garage.

§ Cathcart Street between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.

§ Church Street between Pacific Avenue and Double Decker Parking Garage

Temporary road closures from 5:00 p.m. October 31st to 03:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:

§ Walnut Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

§ Maple Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

§ Locust Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

§ Soquel Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.

§ Front Street between Soquel Avenue and Laurel Street.

§ Front Street between Water Street and River Street.

§ Church Street between Pacific Avenue and Double Decker Parking Garage.

Temporary road closures from 10:00 a.m. October 31st to 10:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:

§ Pacific Avenue between Laurel Street and Water Street.

§ Cathcart Street between Cedar Street and Front Street.

§ Cooper Street between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.

§ Lincoln Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

§ Elm Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

The temporary rerouting of Birch Lane from an eastbound one-way roadway to a westbound one-way roadway will occur from 5:00 p.m. till 3:00 a.m. Signage will be posted at each entrance to indicate the proper traffic flow.

Halloween 2017 Safety Enhancement Zone Designation and Road Closures

Santa Cruz Police Department Completes Preparations For Halloween Night 2017 

To encourage respectful behavior, the Santa Cruz Police Department has enacted a Safety Enhancement Zone designation in the Downtown corridor for Halloween 2017. The Safety Enhancement Zone begins at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31st and runs through 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 1st.

The Safety Enhancement Zone includes TRIPLE FINES for certain Municipal Code violations committed in the zone during the designated times. Examples of fines are included in the attached flyer. In addition to the Triple Fines, the Safety Enhancement Zone will also dictate road closures and No Parking zones.

Annually, Halloween draws large crowds to the downtown during the evening and late night. The police department will utilize over 100 uniformed police officers from the Santa Cruz Police Department and neighboring agencies to staff the event.

Officers will be using a proactive strategy to minimize problems and reduce the opportunity for alcohol-fueled problems and inappropriate behavior throughout the night. Last year the police department responded to 397 calls for service, issued 24 Triple Fine citations and made 20 arrests during the Halloween evening. The crowd size was estimated at 10,000.

In addition to more officers, there will be increased lighting and portable restrooms throughout the downtown corridor.

Listed below are the road closures and the times that they will be in effect:
No Parking/Tow Away zone from 10:00 a.m. October 31st to 10:00 a.m. November 1st on the following streets:
Pacific Avenue between Laurel Street and Water Street.
Cooper Street between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.
Cathcart Street between Cedar and Front Street
Soquel Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Frazier Louis Lane.

No Parking/Tow Away zone from 5:00 p.m. October 31st to 3:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:
Front Street between Soquel Avenue and Laurel Street.
River Street between South River Street and Front Street
Front Street between River Street and Soquel Avenue
Front Street between Water Street and River Street.
Locust Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.
Walnut Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street Parking Garage.
Cathcart Street between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.
Church Street between Pacific Avenue and Double Decker Parking Garage

Temporary road closures from 5:00 p.m. October 31st to 03:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:
Walnut Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.
Maple Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.
Locust Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.
Soquel Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.
Front Street between Soquel Avenue and Laurel Street.
Front Street between Water Street and River Street.
Church Street between Pacific Avenue and Double Decker Parking Garage.

Temporary road closures from 10:00 a.m. October 31st to 10:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:
Pacific Avenue between Laurel St Street and Water Street.
Cathcart Street between Cedar Street and Front Street.
Cooper Street between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.
Lincoln Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.
Elm Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street

The temporary rerouting of Birch Lane from an eastbound one-way roadway to a westbound one-way roadway will occur from 5:00 p.m. till 3:00 a.m. Signage will be posted at each entrance to indicate the proper traffic flow.

2016 Halloween Safety Enhancement Zone

Getting ready for Halloween? SCPD preparations for Halloween weekend are ready to go.  We have enacted the Safety Enhancement Zone in the Downtown area to help keep everyone safe.

Annually, Halloween draws large crowds to the downtown during the evening and late night. The department will utilize over 100 uniformed police officers from the Santa Cruz Police Department and neighboring agencies to staff the event. Officers will be using a proactive strategy to minimize problems and reduce the opportunity for alcohol fueled problems and inappropriate behavior throughout the night.

To encourage respectful behavior, the Santa Cruz Police Department has enacted a Safety Enhancement Zone designation in the Downtown corridor for Halloween 2016. The Safety Enhancement Zone begins at 12:00 a.m. on Saturday October 29th and runs through 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday November 1st.

The Safety Enhancement Zone includes TRIPLE FINES for certain Municipal Code violations committed in the zone during the designated times.  In addition to the Triple Fines, the Safety Enhancement Zone will also dictate road closures and No Parking zones. 

Listed below are the road closures and the times that they will be in effect:

No Parking/Tow Away zone from 10:00 a.m. October 31st to 10:00 a.m. November 1st on the following streets:

•  Pacific Avenue between Laurel Street and Water Street.
• Cooper Street between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.
•  Cathcart Street between Cedar and Pacific Avenue.
• Soquel Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Frazier Louis Lane.

No Parking/Tow Away zone from 5:00 p.m. October 31st to 3:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:

•  Front Street between Soquel Avenue and Laurel Street.
• River Street between South River Street and Front Street
•  Front Street between River Street and Soquel Avenue 
•  Front Street between Water Street and River Street.

No Parking/Tow Away zone from 5:00 p.m. October 31st to 3:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:

• Locust Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.
• Walnut Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street Parking Garage.
• Cathcart Street between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.
• Church Street between Pacific Avenue and Double Decker Parking Garage

Temporary road closures from 5:00 p.m. October 31st to 03:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:

• Walnut Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.
• Maple Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.
• Locust Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.
• Soquel Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.
• Front Street between Soquel Avenue and Laurel Street.
• Front Street between Water Street and River Street. 
• Church Street between Pacific Avenue and Double Decker Parking Garage.

Temporary road closures from 10:00 a.m. October 31st to 10:00 a.m. November 1st, on the following streets:

• Pacific Avenue between Laurel Street and Water Street.
• Cathcart Street between Cedar Street and Front Street.
• Cooper Street between Pacific Avenue and Front Street.
•  Lincoln Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.
• Elm Street between Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street.

The temporary rerouting of Birch Lane from an eastbound one-way roadway to a westbound one-way roadway will occur from 5:00 p.m. till 3:00 a.m. Signage will be posted at each entrance to indicate the proper traffic flow.Please drive safe and smart through our city streets, and beware of little Trick-Or-Treater’s out and about.  Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!

Safety Enhancement Zone and Road Closures for Halloween

Halloween is quickly coming.  We actually begin lining up all the logistics and preparing for this around April each year.  Lt. Warren Barry is the master strategist behind this year’s plan and he is ready to go.  

We will have over 100 police officers and a ton of private security, to give an adequate uniform presence helping ensure the night stays safe for all. 

As you might have guessed, alcohol-fueled problems tend to be what occupies most of our responses.  Our strategy is early intervention of potential problems, so that they don’t grow into bigger problems later in the night. 

If you are drunk and/or a problem, we’ll have plenty of officers there to help ensure you spend the night at the most bizarre costume party in town……the jail drunk tank on Halloween night. 

To help out with the problems, we have again initiated a Safety Enhancement Zone.  This means there will be triple fines for offenders and road closures for traffic safety.  Here is a map of the triple fine area along with some examples of fines. 

Here is a list of the road closure and No Parking times & locations. 

We will also have additional officers out in the rest of the vicinity to make sure tings stay safe for those Trick-Or-Treater’s.  Please drive safe and smart through our city streets, and beware of those little ones out and about.   

The bottom line……enjoy the night.  Stay Smart – Stay Sober – Stay Safe. 

Halloween 2013 Statistics

We made it through another Halloween here in Santa Cruz.  This has morphed into one of the most interesting street gatherings anywhere.  We saw everything from the very elaborate with lights and custom design, to the guy who threw on a wig and a pizza delivery T-Shirt and called it a costume. 

The important thing is that everyone stayed safe and there were no significant incidents of violence. 

Our staff worked tirelessly throughout the night to proactively address issues and potential issues, not only downtown but also throughout the rest of the city.  

Here are some of the police statistics from the 12 hour period of 4:00 PM on Thursday to 4:00 AM on Friday morning. 

Calls for Service = 282

Arrests = 32 (25 for public intoxication) Those tend to create the most regrettable booking photos!! 

Safety Enhancement Zone/Triple Fine Citations = 16

At the peak, the crowd size was estimated at 20,000

And At Least 1,523 "Nice Costume" comments.  Thanks....we've been working on them all year :-) 

Overall the crowd demeanor was more calm and celebratory.  Officers proactively mitigated a number of incidents involving gang posturing and presence in and around the downtown corridor.

Stay Safe Santa Cruz!!

Halloween Behind the Scenes at SCPD

Halloween around the police department is an “All Hands on Deck” day.  Everyone works in some capacity to keep the city safe and deal with the influx of people and mitigate safety concerns.  Many of us will be working 12+ hours today to make it all happen. 

Aside from working incredibly hard, we manage to find a few ways to make it fun.

Meet some of our Administrative staff. 

Some of our Admin Team, Debbie Lentini, Jacqui Drechsler, Cyndi Shockey, Kimberlee Steele, Sarah Benjamin, and Amanda Gullings

Our Administrative Staff here at the Santa Cruz Police Department is the coolest.  They are amazingly hard working and fun.  This year for Halloween, they got together and dressed like the characters in the series, Orange is the New Black. 

The result…..they smoked the competition in the City’s Halloween Costume Contest this year, winning Best Group Costume!!!  Nice work team!

While they were at it, Records Tech Sarah Benjamin carved up a Never Forget pumpkin for Butch and Elizabeth.  Nice touch!!

 

 

Stay Safe Everyone….we will be out there on the job doing our best to ensure a safe Halloween for all.