Police coordinate at the Flamingo during a New Year’s Eve celebration on The Strip, Monday, Dec. 31, 2018.
Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019 | 2 a.m.
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Along with fireworks, booze and festive music, the 330,000 or so revelers expected to ring in 2020 in Las Vegas should expect an increased law enforcement presence, biting temperatures, road closures and restrictions of what they can bring to the party.
Increasingly, Las Vegas plays host to large events, but none is as colossal than the New Year’s Eve celebrations on the Strip and Fremont Street downtown, Clark County Undersheriff Kevin McMahill said last week.
Though there was “no known specific or credible threat to Las Vegas or Southern Nevada,” McMahill said that Metro Police and its law enforcement partners were prepared to respond swiftly if any attacks were to occur.
Local law enforcement agencies and the National Guard will assist Metro, as will federal agencies, such as the FBI, Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security, McMahill said.
First responders have learned much from multi-agency hands-on training and tabletop exercises, as well as the Oct. 1, 2017, massacre, McMahill said. Quick-response forces and smaller strike teams will be prepared to respond immediately, he added.
Authorities’ command post this year is moved from the Nevada Highway Patrol’s south valley headquarters, which were outgrown, to the Rob Roy’s Innevation center, operated by tech company Switch.
“Please help us make this a great event,” McMahill said. “We want you to enjoy that evening, but please know we will not tolerate those who come here to break the laws and disrupt the festivities.”
Police ask that any suspicious activity be reported to the Southern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center at 702-828-7777 or 911. Non-emergencies can be reported at 311.
Chilly temperatures
Revelers shouldn’t be fooled by conditions at sunset today. Forecasters predict that temperatures in the low 50s around 4 p.m. today will drop to 40 by midnight.
The good news is that wind and rain aren’t expected to be factors, National Weather Service meteorologist Andy Gorelow said.
Those keeping warm at home can watch the celebrations online at kclv.tv/live or the city of Las Vegas’ Facebook page.
Closures
The Fremont Street Experience downtown will close at 5 p.m. today and reopen for entertainment at 6 p.m. Entry into the Fremont Street Experience on New Year’s Eve requires an event wristband or barcode on a smartphone. Tickets, which cost $45 plus fees, are available online at vegasexperience.com or during the event at the Fremont Street Experience entry gates, the SlotZilla ticket office or Fremont Street Experience member casinos.
Entry onto the Las Vegas Strip portion of the New Year’s Eve celebration is free.
Beginning at 5 p.m., the Nevada Highway Patrol will shut down eastbound off-ramps on Interstate 15 at Tropicana Avenue, Flamingo Road and Spring Mountain Road, according to Metro.
At 5:45 p.m., authorities will shut down westbound traffic into the Strip from all other streets, roads and alleys between Sahara Avenue and Mandalay Bay Road.
All traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard, between Sahara Avenue and Mandalay Bay Road will be restricted beginning at 6 p.m., with barricades put in place.
At 6:15 p.m., Metro officers will begin clearing all vehicular traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard between Sahara Avenue and Mandalay Bay Road.
When the Strip is fully open to pedestrian traffic at 6:45 p.m., all walkways, elevators and escalators Las Vegas Boulevard will be shut down.
The walkways, elevators and escalators will resume operation about 12:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Barricades will begin coming down about 1:30 a.m., street sweepers will begin working about 2 a.m. from south to north on Las Vegas Boulevard on the Strip, and road restrictions will be lifted about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Visitor restrictions
Here are the rules for those attending the outdoor celebrations, which the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is dubbing “America’s Party 2020”:
• Metal and glass containers will not be allowed outside in the resort corridor from 6 p.m. today until 6 a.m. Wednesday. Plastic containers are OK, according to Metro.
• Children are not permitted without adult supervision from 6 p.m. today until 5 a.m. Wednesday. Only those 21 years old and older will be allowed at the celebrations on Fremont Street.
• Large bags, including backpacks, coolers, briefcases, luggage and purses larger than 12” by 6” will not be permitted.
• Strollers, carts or “any vehicle propelled by humans, electricity or mechanical means” will not be allowed. Wheelchair sused for medical reasons are permitted.
• Marijuana consumption in public spaces, vehicles, casinos, hotels and on the street is against the law. So are fireworks and shooting a gun into the air.
“If you can’t comply, DO NOT GO to the Strip and downtown. This is part of a large effort to make America’s Party safe for you to enjoy!” Metro wrote on one of its social media accounts.
