Law enforcement will be out in force for New Year’s Eve

Douglas County sheriff’s deputies are preparing for the New Year’s Eve celebration at Stateline; where some years about 50,000 people have closed down the casino corridor.

While some of the usual participants may be at Lake Tahoe Community College for the SnowGlobe concert that night, law enforcement on both sides of the state line still expect a large contingency at the casinos.

Even though no ball drops, a mostly twenty-something crowd meanders around in the cold.

Close enough to walk to will be the festivities at Heavenly Village, where a lighted gondola will “drop” and fireworks will go off at 9pm — the New York New Year.

Douglas County will beef up its patrol starting Thursday — in large part because the three-night SnowGlobe event starts late that afternoon.

Due to the ordinarily high volume of pedestrian traffic expected within the casino core area during New Year’s Eve, Highway 50 is likely to be closed to vehicle traffic. If that occurs, traffic will be diverted around the Stateline casino core area using upper and lower Lake Parkway Drive.

Besides Douglas County and South Lake Tahoe officers near Stateline on Dec. 31, expect to see personnel from

Nevada Highway Patrol, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Nevada Department of Prisons, Placer County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.

As in years past, a non-confrontational approach will be used, with the idea more citations are handed out than arrests made.

Incidents that will most likely result in an arrest include acts that place celebrants or law enforcement officers in jeopardy; including acts of rowdy behavior, fighting, throwing projectiles, vandalism, theft, narcotic violations, severe public drunkenness, possession of or discharge of fireworks, minors consuming or possessing alcohol, or any other act that disrupts the goal of achieving a peaceful and safe environment for all in attendance.

Glass and metal containers, regardless of contents, are prohibited in the casino core area on New Year’s Eve. Alcohol or other liquids shall be in a plastic cup, paper cup or other similar vessel.

The curfew in Douglas County on Saturday for people younger than 18 is midnight.