Efforts to keep spring break parties under control in Isla Vista are being called a success this weekend, with a major year to year drop in the number of arrests and citations.
Santa Barbara County closed the community’s beaches to prevent the same type of massive unsanctioned, unsponsored beach parties which overwhelmed the community’s public health and safety resources in 2009.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and UC Santa Barbara beefed up the law enforcement presence in IV, with some 100 officers from other UC campuses on hand to help if needed. Students also worked to keep uninvited out of town people from coming, and creating problems.
While approximately 10,000 people were in Isla Vista looking for parties during spring break of last year, only about 3500 people showed up this year. The number of arrests dropped from 102 to 45, and citations dipped from 140 to 48. No major incidents were reported.