The new event regulations were put in place earlier this year after 2 were killed and 16 injured in a shooting at a concert and trail ride in south Dallas.
DALLAS, Texas – A spokesman for the Dallas Police Department revealed Friday that officers had visited ‘dozens’ of businesses scheduled to hold NYE parties and events this weekend for not registering those events with the city and submitting a security plan in advance. .
The spokesman said the businesses were visited by the department’s Tactical Planning Unit and the owners were given fliers drafted by the City Attorney’s Office notifying them that their planned event would be in violation of city code.
A photo of the flyer is below:
The new event regulations were put in place in June of this year after two were killed and 16 others injured during a shooting at a concert and trail ride in south Dallas in May.
Council members approved an ordinance requiring commercial promoters to register with the city’s commercial promoter registration program, pay a $175 registration fee and meet safety plan requirements.
Penalties for violating any of the new regulations will be between $500 and $2,000, according to the ordinance.
However, the flyer said the fines would not exceed $500. He also said a violation of the ordinance could result in the property being designated as a common nuisance property and or a financial liability for any emergency response.
The part requiring security plans was enacted to prevent or quickly respond to any violence or shootings that might occur at an event.
“[C]This council wants to protect residents, visitors and employees at promoted events by ensuring that all commercial promoters develop, maintain and comply with security plans that address crowd management, crowd control and security to reduce crime. violently and damage to persons and property,” the ordinance states.
A “promoted event” as defined in the ordinance shall mean any indoor commercial event open to the public, or an outdoor event with an anticipated occupancy of more than 100 persons which is open to the public.
Such events that would be included in this would include dance performances, concerts and theater performances.
Safety plans should include information such as maximum space occupancy, expected total attendance and expected maximum attendance at any given time, a crowd management plan, a safety and first aid management plan, and medical information including accident. /incident reporting procedures at the scene.
Any promoter with two or more citations for violating the new ordinance may have their promoter registration suspended, the ordinance states.
Promoters who hold an event without registering with the city, without an approved security plan or in violation of an approved security plan can be fined up to $2,000 per violation.
A DPD spokesperson told WFAA that the visits and flyers were meant to be educational about the new commercial promoter ordinance.
The flyer also said the Dallas Office of Special Events would work with businesses that applied for registration before 5 p.m. Dec. 30.
