CONTACT: Christine Wallace, Police Public Affairs Manager
DATE OF INCIDENT: March 6-9, March 13-16, and March 17, 2026
TYPE OF INCIDENT: St. Patrick’s Day Safety Enhancement Zone Recap
PLACE OF OCCURRENCE: San Luis Obispo
The 2026 safety enhancement zone (SEZ) for St. Patrick’s Day encompassed two weekends, March 6-9, March 13-16 and March 17th. During the SEZ, fines for noise, unruly gathering, open container and public urination were doubled.
On Saturday, March 14, 2026, San Luis Obispo Police Department closed several streets and guided the flow of pedestrians onto the Cal Poly campus from the neighborhoods for the “Morning on the Green” concert. There were no incidents of revelers attempting to gather in the neighborhoods as in past years, and eleven noise citations were issued at residential properties.
The following data encompasses the entirety of the SEZ, including arrests made and citations issued by agencies that assisted:
Drunk in public arrest - 3
Minor in possession arrest - 0
Driving under the influence arrest - 2
Drunk in public arrest – 2
Minor in possession arrest – 0
Driving under the influence arrest – 1
Drunk in public arrest - 0
Minor in possession arrest - 0
Driving under the influence arrest – 0
The data for 2025 can be found in last year's media release. We are pleased to acknowledge the significant decrease in alcohol related violations from 2025 to 2026. We greatly appreciate the continued collaboration with Cal Poly University, the allied agencies who assisted the Saturday event, the Downtown Association and downtown bars and restaurants that provided a safe environment for the celebration, and our community members who celebrated responsibly.
