Press Releases
Atlanta Police Department provides safety tips and urges patience during Memorial Day Holiday
Post Date:05/23/2014 12:15 PM
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Atlanta Police Department Public Affairs |
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Elizabeth Espy, APD Public Affairs Deputy Manager |
News Release
Atlanta Police Department provides safety tips and urges patience during Memorial Day Holiday
Atlanta Police prepared to protect city during busy holiday weekend
More than 250,000 people are expected to visit Downtown Atlanta and surrounding areas during the Memorial Day holiday weekend. The Atlanta Police Department is prepared for increased activity and will have personnel available to assist with traffic and security issues. Please be patient as increased volume in the city often crowded roadways.A variety of sporting events, festivals, graduations and other happenings will fill the city and the Department is offering a few tips to navigate the crowds and enjoy the city safely. Residents should plan ahead for road closures and increased vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Expected Downtown street closures for the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival parades on Saturday, May 24 include Peachtree Street, West Peachtree Street, Mitchell Street, Central Avenue, Andrew Young International Blvd., Centennial Olympic Park Drive, Chapel Street, Mangum Street, Martin L. King Jr. Drive and Alabama Street near Underground Atlanta. The parades will start at noon and streets should be reopened by 3:00pm. Tenth Street, Monroe Drive and Charles Allen Drive will also be closed for the Atlanta Jazz Festival, May 23- 25.
Additionally, anyone traveling to any of the events by car should remember to adhere to the Clean Car Campaign by removing all valuables prior to exiting their vehicle. Officers routinely respond to reports of GPS units, tablet computers, purses, firearms and other valuables stolen from unattended vehicles. Leave these items at home, or take them with you to avoid becoming a victim of this preventable crime.
Other tips include:
• Always be aware of your surroundings, and call 9-1-1 to report any suspicious activity. Remember the Department’s “See Something, Say Something” campaign to encourage vigilance for criminal activity.
• Be mindful of parking only in permitted lots and be sure to pay attention to any “No Parking” signs to avoid citations or fines. Violators are also subject to having their vehicles towed and impounded.
• Be aware of possible road or lane closures due to events to plan your outings with minimal disruptions.
• Consider taking MARTA to these events, or carpooling, to minimize the traffic volume expected in Downtown and Midtown Atlanta.
More than a dozen major events will be held over the holiday including the Atlanta Jazz Festival, Atlanta Caribbean Carnival parade and Atlanta Braves games.
Memorial Day weekend events (partial list)
• MomoCon, Anime and Gaming Convention Hilton Atlanta, May 23-25, 2014
• Atlanta Jazz Festival, Piedmont Park, May 23-25, 2014
• Celebration of Summer, Sidney Marcus Park, May 23, 2014
• Atlanta Braves vs. Colorado Rockies, Turner Field, May 23-25, 2014
• Langston Hughes High School Graduation, Georgia Dome, May 24, 2014
• Atlanta Caribbean Carnival Parade, Downtown Atlanta, May 24, 2014
• Westlake High School Graduation, Georgia Dome, May 24, 2014
• Atlanta Dream vs. Indiana Fever, Philips Arena, May 25, 2014
• Atlanta Braves vs. Boston Red Sox, Turner Field, May 26-27, 2014
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