Fewer arrests, citations during St. Fratty’s parties this year, SLO police say
The San Luis Obispo Police Department arrested eight people and issued 37 citations related to partying during the weekends surrounding St. Fratty’s Day — a marked downturn from previous years.
Some of those violations came as St. Fratty’s Day weekend kicked off with an early morning music festival hosted on Cal Poly’s campus on March 14 which drew 11,000 attendees at its peak.
The concert was designed in 2025 as an alternative to the raucous street parties of previous years.
And unlike previous years, the city saw “no incidents of revelers attempting to gather in the neighborhoods” this St. Fratty’s Day, a news release from the San Luis Obispo Police Department said.
There was a heavy law enforcement presence in the neighborhoods near campus that day, with officers from SLO police and 21 other agencies providing supports to keep students safe and prevent any large, unsanctioned gatherings.
In San Luis Obispo, safety enhancement zones were in place from March 6 to 9 and March 13 to 17, doubling fines for noise, unruly gatherings, open containers and public urination across the St. Fratty’s and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Police said from March 6 to 9, there were:
- Ten noise violation citations
- Four open container citations
- Three drunk in public arrests
- Two arrests for driving under the influence
From March 13 to 16 there were:
- Twelve noise violation citations
- Nine open container citations
- One public urinantion citation
- Two drunk in public arrests
- One arrest for driving under the influence
On March 17, there was only one noise violation citation, police said.
Police issued fewer citations this year than in 2025, when officers distributed 45 citations for noise violations, open containers, unruly gatherings or public urination, according to the San Luis Obispo Police Department.
Meanwhile, police also made fewer arrests.
This year, police arrested eight people. In 2025, officers arrested 25 people for being drunk in public, driving under the influence or being a minor in possession during the safety enhancement zones.
