Gasparilla Pirate Fest - "Zero Tolerance" Policy

With more and more people flooding into the Tampa, Florida area to take part in the annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival, the police find themselves prepping to handle the crowds and the constant threat of alcohol fueled crimes. While the festival is known for its floats and community fun, it has also become known for a darker side - including arrests for open container violations, fights, underage drinking and even urinating in public.

For this reason, in recent years, the police have begun to enforce their "Zero Tolerance" policy. To prep the community for the recent changes the police force has been engaging in an expanded educational campaign. In the first year, the police visiting six local schools, the University of Tampa, as well as the MacDill Air Force Base to explain the new regulations that guide public behavior at the festival. Now, they are taking even more steps to record the presentation that it can be shown all schools in the area, as well as on social media sites, such as Facebook, YouTube and the official site website.

What Police Are Enforcing at the Gasparilla Pirate Festival

So what exactly does the "Zero Tolerance" policy entail? Primarily, the police are enforcing what are known as the wet and dry zones - the areas where you will and will not be able to carry around open containers of alcohol. Unlike previous years where this was lax, it has been made extremely clear that the only areas where open containers will be tolerated are along the direct parade route, as well as in the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. What other violations will not be tolerated at the Gasparilla Pirate Fest? Some other rules include:

• Nobody can carry around glass containers of any sort;
• Alcohol cannot be carried / stored in kegs or similar large containers;
• "Flashing" or displays of nudity for beads is prohibited;
• Alcoholic beverages must be drunken from a can or plastic bottle;
• No driving while under the influence;
• No weapons, motorized vehicles or bicycles allowed;
• There will no fighting or property damage allowed; and
• Trespassing on private property will not be tolerated

Tampa DUI Lawyer Protecting Your Legal Rights

If you have recently been arrested while attending Gasparilla, it is important to remember that there is legal help available to help defend your legal rights. At Thomas & Paulk, we have vast experience in handling criminal cases of all kinds and specialize in DUI-related arrests. If you have been criminally charged for an alcohol-related crime, we encourage you to contact a Tampa DUI lawyer from our firm immediately. We are prepared to help you fight for your just outcome in every way possible.

Want to know more about the "Zero Tolerance" policy for the Gasparilla Pirate Festival? Please do not hesitate to contact a Tampa DUI lawyer from Thomas & Paulk as soon as possible.