Four Tips for Safe, Fun Mardi Gras
You don’t have to live in New Orleans to get caught up in the excitement of Mardi Gras. If you’re one of the millions across the country that will join in the celebration on February 28th, we would like to share four tips to help keep your Mardi Gras festivities safe and fun!
Tip #1: Alcohol Consumption
If consuming alcohol is part of your celebration, plan ahead. Designate a driver before the drinking ever starts, or make transportation arrangements ahead of time to make sure you get home safely. The consequences for choosing to get behind the wheel can be devastating. It is also a good idea to know the laws in your area. For example, public intoxication does not contain a criminal or civil penalty in Arizona. However, a publicly intoxicated person can be taken into protective custody and transported to a treatment center or even jail for their own safety.
Tip #2: Personal Safety
Not everyone that you encounter during your Mardi Gras festivities is necessarily out to celebrate. Plan ahead and be aware of your surroundings to avoid becoming of victim of theft or violence. Leave valuables at home, not in your car that can be easily broken into, or in a bag that you might not have constant possession of.
Tip #3: Fighting
It’s a fact – alcohol impairs judgment and poor judgment can lead to inappropriate or rowdy behavior, hot tempers, and fighting. Situations can escalate quickly and you should know how you plan to respond if you find yourself in the middle of a skirmish. The best advice is to keep calm and remove yourself from the potential altercation. Avoid being provoked or drawn into a situation that could lead to serious legal problems.
Tip #4: Public Behavior
The attitudes in Arizona don’t necessarily mirror those in New Orleans – it’s important to know when you risk going too far. In Arizona, a person can be charged with indecent exposure if they: (1) expose them self when another person is present and (2) is reckless about whether a reasonable person would be offended or alarmed by the act. The penalty for indecent exposure in Arizona ranges from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class 6 felony.
Stay safe and “Laissez les bons temps rouler!” (“let the good times roll” in French).
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