The New Orleans City Council today voted to clean up the Mardi Gras parade route -- at least, that's what they hope will happen by prohibiting plastic bags from being thrown from floats, and keeping people parking trucks with portable toilets within two blocks of the parade route.
New Orleans Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness director Colin Arnold says there's a public safety issue to think about.
"What we are trying to do is trying to as best we can make the parade route a bit more sterile as far as the ability to park unattended trucks, larger vehicles, cargo containers, things like that."
Councilman Jay Banks said while it may force people to walk a few more blocks to find a bathroom, it would reduce the potential for someone using a portable toilet to disguise a terrorist weapon.
"We've also got to be intentional in showing the federal government that we as a city are serious about trying to take care of ourselves," said Banks, saying that it could help the city in getting federal help for handling security for the carnival season.
The council also put restrictions on how crews could distribute throws. It aims to cut down on the plastic wrapping that ends up in the street, which city officials say present a slip-and0fall hazard when wet, and a flood hazard when the debris is washed into storm drains.
And in an effort to cut down on the length of time it takes to watch a parade, it limits the amount of bands, marching clubs, dance teams, and other units that appear between parade floats.
Another change effects parade goers -- calling for a limit of four hours before a parade on when people can set up chairs and ladders.