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February 3, 2015Terrebonne voter registrar retiring after 36 years
February 3, 2015
As Carnival season gets set to climax here in the Bayou Region, local law enforcement agencies would like to remind parade-goers to enjoy themselves but to do it in a safe manner.
Local municipalities and parishes have varied rules regarding Carnival, however they all center around keeping both those inside and outside of the floats as safe as possible.
Here’s a look at some of the tips and laws in the Bayou Region so that you can enjoy a safe and fun Carnival season.
Terrebonne Parish
Beginning on Friday with the Krewe of Hercules, 14 parades will make their way through Terrebonne Parish.
Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s deputies will allow vehicles to park near the road on private property as long the vehicles are completely off the shoulder. This allows an area for pedestrians to walk between the vehicles and the roadway, where the parade will pass. Vehicles are already parked along the parade route, and they can remain there as long as they are on private property and are not posing a traffic situation or a safety issue.
Parking on public property, however, is prohibited.
“We ask that no one park on any public roadway or block any bridge. We have to keep those lanes open for emergency traffic at all times for emergency responders,” said Major Michael Dean of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office.
People wishing to build or place reviewing stands on the parade route must apply for a permit from the parish. The permit must include the name of the applicant, the type of reviewing stand and the proposed time the applicant wants to build or place the reviewing stand along the parade route. It may not be built or placed more than 30 days before the first parade of the season and must be removed within 10 days after the last parade of the season. The permit costs $50.
“Cherry pickers” or other elevating-type vehicles are not allowed.
Silly string and laser pointers are prohibited along the parade route, and the Sheriff’s Office asks that parade-goers leave bicycles, skateboards and pets at home.
While a parade is passing, parade-goers are asked to turn their music down.
Houma
More than half of Terrebonne’s parades pass through the city limits of Houma.
In Downtown Houma, police ask drivers to remove their vehicles from the parade route three hours before the parades begin. Officers will place bags over the parking meters where people should not park in preparation for the parades.
Both Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s deputies and Houma Police officers will patrol within Houma’s city limits, and all Terrebonne Parish ordinances apply.
“I would advise the parade goers as well as those on the float is to think safety first. I know a lot of people that attend these festivities as well as participate in these festivities get caught up in the activities themselves that’s going on so try to limit your consumption and think safety first,” said Lieutenant Dana Coleman of the Houma Police Department.
Lafourche Parish
Over in Lafourche Parish, although cars aren’t allowed to park on shoulders loud music isn’t allowed to be played on non-Carnival days, historically, discretion has been shown during parades.
“We want people to come out, have a good time. This is a great time of year. As long as you show up on the parade route, and you’re obeying all the laws and not causing a disturbance, ultimately our officers are going to use discretion. We want people to have a good time but not at the expense of others,” said Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Deputy Brennan Matherne.
There is a $200 flat fee to build or place reviewing stands along the parade route, and confetti canisters are not allowed within 200 feet of any parade route within the parish limits in Mardi Gras season.
Thibodaux
Thibodaux will enjoy five parades this Carnival season, and its prohibited item list includes life-threatening objects, any firearm, any noxious substance, silly string, stink spray or a stink bomb, a bomb bag, a whip, confetti canisters or metallic confetti streamers.
Additionally, a person may not hold a someone over the age of six on his or her back or shoulders within 10 feet of a float or parade vehicle.
“You can possibly put the parents’ name on a piece of paper, and maybe the parents’ phone number in the child’s pocket just so that they would be able to hand it to the police officer so that the police officer would have a way of identifying the child and getting in touch with the parent,” Thibodaux Police spokesman David Melancon added.
Melancon said signs will be out tell people where they cannot park. “The parades in the Thibodaux area are very family oriented and we like it that way,” he said.
