Major changes could be coming to a few New Orleans Mardi Gras parades.
On Wednesday, the city council will consider an New Orleans Police Department proposal to move the start times of six parades and moving two krewes to different routes. The council will also consider stronger penalties for people who violate rules about placing tents and other prohibited objects in the neutral ground.
The NOPD wants to push up the start time of the Druids parade from 6:15 p.m. on the Wednesday before Fat Tuesday--February 3--to 5 p.m., with the Krewe of Alla's parade following immediately behind Druids.
On the Friday before Mardi Gras, February 5, the Krewe D'État and the Krewe of Hermes would swap times, with D'État's parade starting first at 5:30 p.m. with Hermes rolling behind them at 6 p.m. The Morpheus Parade would roll immediately after Hermes.
On the Saturday before Mardi Gras, February 6, the Tucks Parade would start 30 minutes earlier under the NOPD's plan, rolling at 12:30 p.m. instead of 1 p.m.
Krewe D'État will also have its starting point changed if the council signs off on the NOPD's plan. The NOPD's proposal would move the krewe's starting point from the corner of Jefferson and Magazine to the corner of Magazine and Napoleon. According to a slideshow NOPD officials will present to the council, the change "will help provide smoother formation transitions, allowing the parades better opportunity for smooth operations" on the second Friday of parades.
The NOPD is also proposing moving the Krewe of Sparta's starting line from the corner of Jefferson and Magazine to the corner of Magazine and Napoleon. NOPD leaders say this will help them provide "proper coverage and manpower" for the evening parades on the first Saturday.
The council will also consider an ordinance that would overhaul the rules and regulations for parade floats, riders, and revelers who set up in the neutral ground.
Under Councilman J. P. Morrell's proposal, glass bottles and smoking will be banned from floats. The proposal would also prohibit float riders from throwing alcoholic beverages, items that exceed three-and-a-half pounds in mass, and items "not approved by the carnival association in advance of the parade."
The proposal exempt glass beads and silk flowers from this ban.
Morrell's proposal also gives the NOPD the authority to tow vehicles, including cars, golf carts, and all-terrain vehicles, that obstruct any part of the parade route including the neutral ground. In addition, Morrell's plan explicitly bans portable toilets from public rights-of-way. Anyone who violates the city's prohibition on banned items along the parade route will face fines of $1,000 for a first offense and $2,000 for subsequent offenses. In addition, Morrell's proposal would give the NOPD, New Orleans Fire Department, the Department of Safety and Permits, and the Department of Sanitation the authority to remove "any items, ladders, chairs, enclosures, or portable toilets" placed along the parade route in violation of city ordinances.
That meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Proposed ordinance would strengthen penalties on banned neutral ground items
Proposed ordinance would strengthen penalties on banned neutral ground items
