Santa Barbara County authorities are preparing for this year’s Deltopia, a famous street party on weekends that is famous for arrests, quotes and hospitalizations.
The massive beachfront party will be held this weekend at Isla Vista, a community adjacent to the UC Santa Barbara campus.
The party has taken many forms since its inception, but thousands of college students have descended into a small community and created a national headline to fill all the available space on Del Playa Drive.
No party has reached the chaos of the 2014 event, which ended with violent riots, but Deltopia usually results in several arrests and multiple hospitalizations for drug overdose or alcoholism.
People who are participating in Isla Vista’s Deltopia Spring Break Party can be seen in this image posted on the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
In 2023, more than 150 people were cited, and dozens more were arrested. The previous year, authorities said they had been “inundated” by emergency calls, with the majority of them being linked to acute alcoholism.
Since 2014, law enforcement has played a more active role in surveillance and police unlicensed parties. The same goes for this year.
On Wednesday, a joint press release from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff and the Fire Department set out plans for this year’s event, including enforcement safety tips and reminders.
Among the main concerns of first responders is the dangerous bluffs along the coastline of Isla Vista. Authorities respond routinely to reports of injuries and occasional deaths, with people falling from the balcony on the ground below.
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The view from the Cliffside deck may seem like a major location for partygoers, but authorities have warned it is one of the most dangerous places during Deltopia.
“Falls occur almost every year, and sometimes tragic results,” says Co-liberation. “To avoid injuries, stay behind all fencing or railings near the railing.”
Authorities stress that residential decks are not equipped to handle the weight of hundreds of people standing shoulder to shoulder, warning that they have collapsed in the past and caused serious traumatic injuries.
Young adults and students gather on a packed balcony at their homes in Isla Vista on April 2, 2022 (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)
Drug use and overconsumption are another concern for first responders, reminding officials to recognize the good Samaritan law for unauthorized parties that allow people to report drug or alcohol overconsumption without fear of liability, even if the reporter is affected at the time of the call for assistance.
“The law was created to encourage bystanders to help with emergencies and is one of the most powerful tools in the community over Deltopia weekend,” officials said.
Additionally, parties are urged to give way to first responders in emergencies and work with them to ensure that their lives are not unnecessarily at risk.
Party attendees will crowd the streets of Isla Vista as paramedics grabbed a gurney injured person in their cars during the unlicensed Deltopia party on April 8, 2023 (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)
However, cooperation and precautions are not tools that you will be willing to exercise when police Deltopia.
Restoration Justice, a diversion program that allows certain citations to be rejected through community service or educational classes, will be stopped during Deltopia. This means that tickets issued during Deltopia will be brought to court, leading to permanent additional fees and permanent additions to a person’s criminal history.
Other ways to curb illegal activities throughout Deltopia include alternative entertainment in the form of a new “recovery centre” with facilities such as off-site concerts, parking enforcement, meals, water and a momentary break from festivals.
On their joint release, the Sheriff’s Office and the Fire Department urged those present in the party to “keep safe, act responsibly and pay attention to each other,” adding that anyone who has not been approved or approved by law enforcement or universities but who insist on attending Deltopia should do everything to ensure that.”
And, as always, “keep safe and keep local.”
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