San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly experience a mellow ‘St. Fratty’s Day’ weekend

The “St. Fratty’s Day” weekend came and went in San Luis Obispo, and this year’s festivities were a far cry from the March 7, 2015, party that brought thousands of revelers into the neighborhoods surrounding the Cal Poly campus.

That party ended when the roof of a detached garage collapsed under the weight of dozens of people, injuring eight.

This year, San Luis Obispo and University police said they were prepared for any planned events this year, and staffing levels were increased over the weekend. Also, Cal Poly’s Office of Student Affairs and Associated Students Inc. conducted outreach to students to encourage responsible celebrations that wouldn’t affect the well-being of the community.

In total, the San Luis Obispo Police Department issued only 10 citations and made one arrest related to St. Fratty’s Day on Saturday and Sunday. Two citations were issued for being a minor in possession, three were issued for open alcohol containers, four citations were for noise and one was for hosting a party where alcohol was being served to minors.

One person was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

On Friday, Cal Poly’s University Police Department worked with the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to carry out safety checks and conduct enforcement for alcohol-related offenses. Officers cited 14 people for 18 various alcohol violations.

On Monday, San Luis Obispo police Capt. Chris Staley said the number of officers patrolling the streets as well as the proactive outreach in student-heavy neighborhoods got word out to would-be partiers.

“I think us being visible out there certainly had to do with (the low citation numbers),” Staley said.

St. Fratty’s Day festivities in recent years took place outside of the traditional St. Patrick’s Day weekend to avoid the city’s Safety Enhancement Zone Ordinance, which doubles municipal fines for low-level crimes such as public alcohol consumption on popular party weekends.

This St. Patrick’s Day weekend, the ordinance will be in effect citywide beginning March 17. Fines will be doubled up to $1,000 for public intoxication, public urination, noise violations, unruly gatherings and open alcohol containers.

This story was originally published March 14, 2016 at 4:39 PM with the headline "San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly experience a mellow ‘St. Fratty’s Day’ weekend."