With thousands expected to visit Santa Cruz over the upcoming Independence Day holiday weekend, the Santa Cruz City Council has taken steps to ensure the City remains safe and clean for everyone.  The Santa Cruz City Council has approved a citywide Safety Enhancement Zone from July 4 to July 5th, 2017.  The safety enhancement designation, which includes tripling the fees for violations of the City’s municipal code such as the illegal discharge of fireworks, littering and public consumption of alcohol.

Santa Cruz Police will be out in force the days leading up to and on July 4th to ensure that community members and visitors enjoy a safe holiday experience.
  
Every available officer will be proactively enforcing all violations designated for triple fines under the Safety Enhancement Zone. Some of those designated triple fines, violations include:

• Fireworks possession
• Possession of Open Containers or Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages in Public Places
• Graffiti
• Noise Violations
• Trespassing
• Conduct on Public Property
• Urinating/Defecating in Public

Santa Cruz Police and Fire Department would like to remind residents and visitors that all fireworks, including those marked “Safe and Sane,” are ILLEGAL in the City of Santa Cruz.

If you witness the discharge of illegal fireworks or any of the violations listed above, the Santa Cruz Police

The department strongly encourages you to call 9-1-1 immediately to report the incident. Our patrol teams will be busy, but we will respond to complaints of illegal fireworks. We ask that you are willing to assist us in identifying and signing a complaint against the person(s) responsible. This means the person in possession of the fireworks or the one responsible for putting flame to fuse. We also ask you to be willing to testify in court, if necessary. With the increased fire danger this year, we are relying on our partnership with the community to keep us all safe this 4th of July.

For those who would like to enjoy fireworks, please plan to attend a safe and professionally controlled firework show to ensure the safety of your family, friends, and property.