Mardi Gras Parade Rules

Many good fun-loving folks have had great Mardi Gras fun, only to have it ruined by a little bit of poor judgment. There aren't really many specific rules for Mardi Gras, but city laws and ordinances apply, and ignoring them could put a damper on an otherwise great time. Rather than take the chance of having a Mardi Gras that you would prefer to forget, don't cut corners, and play by the rules. It could save you a lot of grief, and a considerable amount of money.

Vehicular Parking
One of the most frequent downers at Mardi Gras is discovering that your automobile is gone. Your first thought is that it was stolen. Then, it begins to sink in, that your car was illegally parked, and has been towed. There you are, with your kids, ice chest, boxes and bags of food, folding chairs, ladders, and no car. Worse, it could set you back several hundred dollars for towing fees, fines, and court costs.

Remember, that parking laws are not suspended during Mardi Gras. When parking:

• stay at least 15 feet from fire hydrants
• stay at least 20 feet from street corners/crosswalks
• stay at least three feet from driveways
• observe all parking signs, and curbs painted yellow
• do not park on sidewalks
• do not park on or adjacent to medians
• do not leave your car parked for more than 24 hours
• do not park over-sized vehicles in residential areas

Parking along parade routes is prohibited for two hours before a parade. Cars WILL be towed. To help make the point, just remember parking fines and towing fees are a major source of income for the city.

Parking meters are not always safe. Sometimes the timing mechanism is not accurate, and it will cost plenty just to prove it. For some special events, parking at meters is not allowed. There are certain holidays for which meters do not require contributions, but they are the days listed on the meter, not the days that you assume.

Some telephone numbers to jot down:

Auto Pound/Towing - 565-7236
Traffic Court- 827-5091

Drink Containers
It has been the tradition here in New Orleans that drinking on public streets from glass or metal containers is prohibited. The biggest problem was with glass containers. Many people have been hurt from broken glass, and some have used bottles as a weapon. Be safe, and pour your drinks into paper or plastic cups.

Food Cooking
If you plan to do any barbecue along the parade route, while awaiting the arrival of Rex, you may be all right if you are on your own property, but if you are on public property, you may be told to stop. The key here is common sense, and whether or not it could be a hazard to others.

Viewing Stands
If you are lucky to be invited into a viewing stand to see the parade, great. If you attempt to erect a stand on public or private property, you may find it gone on parade day, or may be told to take it down. Use common sense.

If you bring ladders to the parade route, remember that they must be behind the curb, at least one foot from the curb for each foot in height (a six foot ladder must be six feet from the curb). If you have seats on the ladder for children, make sure that the base is modified to reduce the risk of falling over. The Police Department will enforce these safety regulations.