Law enforcement officials will be out in full force tonight as Franklin Street endures its yearly Halloween barrage of costumed revelers.
Chapel Hill interim Police Chief Greg Jarvies said Franklin Street would be closed from Mallette Street to Raleigh Street and there would be about 260 officers on hand keeping things safe.
"The key for us is to keep the area that's closed off on Franklin Street free from alcohol, flammable materials and weapons," Jarvies said.
Jarvies said that the last couple of years there were between 40,000 and 60,000 people out enjoying the Halloween scene, but this year he expects fewer people.
"We anticipate (the crowd) will be a little smaller than the last couple of years because it's on a Tuesday," Jarvies said.
Chapel Hill police spokeswoman Jane Cousins said the large police presence would draw from all sorts of law enforcement officials, including Chapel Hill police, Carrboro police, University police, Orange County police, Alcohol Law Enforcement and the fire department.
But not all officers will be in uniform, Cousins said. "We will have ALE officers in plainclothes and some of our officers in plainclothes."
Items the police will be trying to keep off the street are alcohol, glass bottles, fireworks and explosives, dogs, weapons, paint and flammable substances. Also, parts of costumes that can be used as weapons will not be allowed on the street. People with items falling under that category will have the option to turn and leave or put the object in a trash can as they enter Franklin Street.
