Headed to south shore Lake Tahoe for New Year's Eve? Here's what you need to know

Law enforcement is preparing for the annual New Year's Eve party held at Stateline, an outdoor gathering that at one time saw 50,000 people in the streets.

Though Highway 50 through Stateline hasn't had to close until just before midnight the past two years, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is prepared to close it to vehicle traffic in the evening if necessary for public safety. If that should occur, vehicle traffic will be diverted around the Stateline casino core area using upper and lower Lake Parkway Drive.

Drivers anticipating traveling through the Stateline casino core area on New Year’s Eve should allow themselves additional time to make it to their destination. There is a 40 percent chance of snow on Saturday, New Year's Eve, but accumulations are expected to be under one-half inch.

Caltrans is alerting motorists traveling in the Sierra foothills, to mountain areas or over the Donner or Echo Summits during the New Year’s weekend to be prepared for travel delays. Cold temperatures and alternating bands of precipitation are predicted to arrive Friday night and continue through Tuesday morning, Jan. 3, resulting in winter driving conditions, even at lower elevations. The National Weather Service is predicting up to one to two feet of snow for summit passes with snow levels dropping to foothill elevations on Monday.

Meanwhile, South Lake Tahoe Police, DCSO, Nevada Highway Patrol, Nevada Department of Corrections, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, and the FBI will all be out in force in the Stateline casino-core area throughout the evening. They will have support from Douglas County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, Douglas County Communications Center, Tahoe-Douglas Fire Department, Caltrans and Nevada Department of Transportation to keep the area safe.

Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini has directed all Deputies to adopt a non-confrontational approach in their contacts with the celebrants. This method of enforcement has proved effective in past years.

"The goal of the Sheriff’s Office is protecting life and property while at the same time allowing celebrants to enthusiastically ring in the New Year," said DCSO Sgt. Bernadette Smith. "There are, however, behaviors that will not be tolerated by law enforcement."

Incidents that will most likely result in an arrest include acts that place celebrants or law enforcement officers in jeopardy; including acts of rowdy behavior, fighting, throwing projectiles, vandalism, theft, narcotic violations, severe public drunkenness, possession of or discharge of fireworks, minors consuming or possessing alcohol, or any other act that disrupts the goal of achieving a peaceful and safe environment for all in attendance.

Persons planning to attend the New Year’s Eve celebration in the Stateline, NV area are reminded that per Douglas County Code 9.26.010, glass or metal containers, regardless of contents, are prohibited in the casino core area on New Year’s Eve. Any such containers, including their contents, will be confiscated for destruction by law enforcement. Alcohol or other liquids shall be in a plastic cup, paper cup or other similar vessel. Area casinos are aware of this requirement, and will serve alcoholic beverages in plastic cups throughout the evening.

Parents must be mindful of their children’s whereabouts and activities, especially during the New Year’s Eve celebration. The crowd that gathers in the casino core for the event is not conducive or intended for participation by juveniles. Each year during the event, a large percentage of contacts and arrests are made of persons under the age of 21.

The curfew in Douglas County is midnight on Saturday, December 31st, 2016. Persons under the age of eighteen are subject to citation for being in violation of this ordinance. Persons under the age of 21 who are in possession of alcohol or who have consumed or are under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be subject to arrest.

Nevada is one of 20 states that decriminalized marijuana possession effective January 1, 2017 but residents will still have to be 21 years older to purchase and consume beginning January 2017. It will still be illegal to smoke marijuana in a public place in 2017. It is also important to remember that will be still against the law in 2017 to drive a vehicle under the influence of marijuana. On the evening of December 31, 2016, anyone who possesses an ounce of less of marijuana can be prosecuted and fined.

In addition to the augmented law enforcement staffing in the Stateline casino core area during New Year’s Eve, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Nevada Highway Patrol will have a full complement of patrol personnel on duty in both the Carson Valley and Lake Tahoe areas to handle calls for service and traffic enforcement, particularly targeting intoxicated drivers. All persons who consume alcohol during their New Year’s Eve celebration are encouraged to catch a ride with a sober driver, or utilize a local taxi service.

Go here for this and other stories appearing on South Tahoe Now.