St. Fratty’s Day to bring thousands of partiers to SLO streets. Here’s what to expect
Thousands of students are expected to hit the streets early Saturday morning as St. Fratty’s Day parties return to the neighborhoods near Cal Poly.
And San Luis Obispo police are bracing for the turnout.
The city has already doubled fines for noise ordinances, public urination, open container and other similar crimes from Friday to Monday. The San Luis Obispo Police Department told The Tribune it has significantly increased staffing for Saturday and Sunday.
Police spokesperson Christine Wallace said in an email that past years celebrations typically began between 4 and 6 a.m. Saturday morning. The agency asks anyone who chooses to party on St. Fratty’s Day to be respectful and be good neighbors.
But Wallace said she didn’t know exactly when and how the revelry might unfold.
“Specific to St. Fratty’s Day, we do not have that information as residents don’t typically let the Police Department know when they are about to be a disturbance,” police spokesperson Christine Wallace said in an email. “Residents should expect to see many police officers, and if residents choose to break the law, they should expect citations and arrests.”
“Keep alcohol inside their houses, keep music volumes low and inside the house, find a toilet instead of using the street and do not drink and drive,” Wallace said.
St. Fratty’s Day has brought neighborhood disturbances in the past.
In 2015, a roof collapsed during a St. Fratty’s Day party, injuring eight people. Last year, a crowd of nearly 4,000 — mostly Cal Poly students — closed down streets near campus during an early-morning St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
Wallace said the closed streets last year were the result of the crowds that gathered. She said the department is prepared to close the streets again if needed.
