Stiff Fines For New Year's Eve Violators Inside Santa Cruz Downtown Zone

SANTA CRUZ-Get ready to be on your best behavior if downtown Santa Cruz is your New Year’s Eve destination.

The Santa Cruz Police Department is reminding party revelers that a so-called Downtown Safety Enhancement Zone has been designated in the downtown corridor for New Year’s Eve.

Beginning at 5:00 PM on December 31st and ending at 5:00 AM on January 1st, the zone allows officers the ability to assess “Triple Fines”.

Certain municipal code violations will carry stiff fines in the zone. An open container could cost you $480. Littering is $288. Abuse the trees, plants or lawn around you, and officers can fine you $1056.

An interactive map of the Safety Enhancement Zone can be found here.

Police say the goal of the triple fines is to deter bad behavior, that fines are very expensive, and it’s an extra incentive for rowdy people to behave.

Police say a large number of extra-duty officers will be present in the downtown area through sunrise New Year’s Day to ensure locals’ safety.

The following road closures and Tow Away zones will be in effect New Year’s Eve:

Where

Starts

Ends

Knight Street

8:00 AM December 31st

2:00 AM January 1st

North Pacific

Between River St and Water St

10:30 PM December 31st

12:45 AM January 1st

Bulkhead Street

10:30 PM December 31st

12:45 AM January 1st

Water Street

Between River St and Center St

10:30 PM December 31st

12:45 AM January 1st

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Tow Away & No Parking-

Front Street

Between Water St and River St

10:30 PM December 31st

12:45 AM January 1st

1500 Block Pacific Avenue

Between Locust St and Water St

10:30 PM December 31st

12:45 AM January 1st