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Council tightens Mardi Gras parade rules: bans glass on floats, limits band stops and sets fines
Summary
Council passed amendments to the Carnival ordinance to improve parade safety: banning glass (except glass beads) on floats, prohibiting smoking/vaping on floats, limiting vehicular marching groups, restricting spontaneous band stops, and creating misdemeanors and civil fines for some violations.
The City Council approved amendments to the Mardi Gras/parade regulations aimed at improving public safety and easing operational costs.
Council members and staff described changes including a ban on glass items (other than glass beads) being thrown from floats; a ban on smoking, vaping and hookahs on floats; limits on vehicular marching groups (for example limiting groups such as the Shriners to three per parade and requiring them to march two abreast); and a prohibition on bands stopping spontaneously to perform. Staff said the changes respond to safety concerns and to requests from the New Orleans Police Department.
Council leadership also described new enforcement tools: the ordinance creates certain misdemeanors and civil fines for violations of parade rules and clarifies permit application and parade element requirements. The council voted to pass the ordinance as amended following discussion and an earlier committee presentation.
