The Baton Rouge Police Department is urging residents to be cautious and responsible while ringing in the 2010 New Year.

Citizens are reminded that fireworks of any kind are illegal throughout all of East Baton Rouge Parish and anyone found discharging fireworks will have them confiscated and is also subject to being charged with a criminal offense.

Citizens are also strongly urged not to fire guns into the air, as the bullet will fall to the ground with sufficient velocity to damage property and injure or kill. Extra officers will be working New Year’s Eve, using ShotSpotter Gun Location System technology to locate and quickly respond to locations where gunfire is detected. Anyone found firing a gun into the air in Baton Rouge is subject to being arrested.

Citizens are also urged to drink responsibly and not to drive if they have consumed alcohol. The Baton Rouge Police Department plans a New Year’s Eve sobriety checkpoint somewhere in the city limits on New Year’s Eve and all local area law enforcement agencies will have personnel out actively searching for drunk drivers.

A sober, designated driver should be used for groups that may be driving from site to site. Several private companies are also offering free ride-home programs for people who have had too much to drink, and taxi cabs are always much less expensive than a DWI arrest. Many local hotels are also sponsoring New Year’s Eve packages which include an overnight stay.

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Sgt. Don Kelly
Baton Rouge Police Department