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The First Night New Year’s Eve celebration uptown has been declared an “extraordinary event” by Charlotte’s interim city manager, a designation that gives police more leeway to stop and search people.
The extraordinary events ordinance was passed in January 2012 by the Charlotte City Council in preparation for the Democratic National Convention. The ordinance allows police to prohibit certain items, such as backpacks or coolers.
While the ordinance was passed for the DNC, the city has used it for other events, including the Fourth of July celebration and Food Lion Speed Street.
The area that has been designated as part of the extraordinary events zone includes the intersection of 7th Street and North Church Street to the intersection of South Church Street and Stonewall Street; from Stonewall to South Davidson Street; from South Davidson Street to 7th Street and from 7th Street to North Church Street.
In a news release issued Monday, the city said: “The ordinance does not typically affect the normal way of life for residents who are going about their daily activities. The Extraordinary Event designation allows the City to modify its permitting process for activities such as parades and specifies certain items that are prohibited from being brought into certain boundaries of the event.”
