Police Outline Oct. 31 Restrictions

According to a statement issued Thursday, police plan to restrict parking and traffic within a one-mile radius of Franklin Street during this year's annual celebration. Police barricades will be set up to prevent traffic from entering the area and to monitor pedestrians.

"On the night of October 31, 2001, vehicular access to downtown Chapel Hill will be limited," the press release states. "Roads to downtown will be closed. Public parking close to downtown will be restricted, and illegally parked vehicles will be towed. Access will be available for people who live or work in the closed areas."

Recent increases in the number of people attending Chapel Hill's annual celebration have created public health and safety concerns and have disrupted town services, the press release states. Last year nearly 50,000 people attended the festivities.

"Our goal is to make it smaller and safer for those who attend," said Chapel Hill police spokeswoman Jane Cousins. "There is no specific number we want to limit the crowd to."

Chapel Hill Police Chief Gregg Jarvies suggested the town adopt measures to help curb the size of this year's Halloween party at the Sept. 24 Town Council meeting. Council member Pat Evans said council members agreed to allow the police department to pursue additional crowd control measures.

Jarvies said Monday he hopes the new restrictions on parking and traffic will help lower cleanup costs. Last year's celebration cost the department a total of $75,000.

"We're not trying to stop Halloween," Jarvies said. "We want to make it a local event, which will hopefully minimize the amount of litter."

Jarvies said nearly 300 officers will also be on duty this year, compared to 200 last year.

Officers from the Durham and Raleigh police departments in addition to University police will be on duty, Jarvies said.

"The officers will be there to make sure the crowd is managed," he said. "They also will be checking for alcohol and weapons at the gates."

Cousins said other town employees also are expected to help manage the festivities. "Town employees have been concerned for many years," she said. "Over 100 people will help put up and take down the barricades as well as providing the officers with food and drink."

Elizabeth Kistin, a sophomore from New Mexico, said she thinks the restrictions are justified. "I think it's a good idea to eliminate the cars," she said. "I felt really safe last year with the police out there making sure things didn't get out of hand."

But Emily Martin, a freshman environmental studies major, said while she thinks the limitations would be helpful, too much enforcement could ruin the Halloween experience. "I think it's a good idea to keep Halloween on Franklin for college students," Martin said. "But the police shouldn't be overly strict. It's a tradition. People are out there to enjoy themselves."

The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu.