Every time I say to anyone, young or old, that I attend UCSB they mention Halloween. Somehow in the last 30 years Isla Vista and Halloween have become synonymous and the reputation precedes itself. Tens of thousands of young college students flood Del Playa dressed in their very best and very small costumes. And hundreds of cops are well aware of what’s going down. They’re on bikes, on foot and on horses. Last year according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department over 25,000 people were on DP on the busiest night of Halloween. Over 250 people were arrested and 450 citations were issued. Now, it’s usually out of towners who end up waking up the next morning in the drunk-tank with a lot of explaining to do to their parents but it’s still good to know how to avoid getting a record or a hefty fine. UCSB students know the obvious things to avoid such as drunk in public, open containers or minor’s in possession. But here are 5 ways you didn’t know you could get arrested in Isla Vista on Halloween.
1) DON’T TOUCH THE HORSES: Now I know they are hard to miss and when you’re feeling a little tipsy, “Let’s pet the pretty horse,” seems like a bomb idea, but just don’t. Not only could you spook the horse and cause a lot of commotion but its technically assaulting a police animal. Now, some officers are okay with people asking to pet the horses, and will allow you to after asking for permission. But I wouldn’t chance it. Just leave the horses alone.
2) Throwing away an alcohol container: Now, recycling is great and I’m all for a greener planet but save the recycling for the 21 year olds. You can actually get a minor in possession for throwing away beer cans. By even having a container in your hand an officer can cite you for being in possession. This has actually happened to girls I know who were just trying to clean up their yard. That’s one fine you don’t want to try and explain to your parents.
3) Getting a little hands on: While this is usually the guy’s problem, you can get cited for sexual assault. While the guy in front of you might be hot and his ass fine, DON’T GRAB IT. It might be seen as a funny joke but think about if it were you. You don’t want random people touching you so just keep your hands to yourself!
4) Sitting on the curb:While most locals know never to sit on the curb, some of the freshman might still not be aware of one the most obvious give-aways for a drunk in public. Most other weekends if a police officer sees someone sitting on the curb they’ll question you and assess the situation. But on Halloween they have a no tolerance policy. With the amount of people traffic on DP, they just can’t take the time to figure out why you’re sitting on the curb. Instead they are just going to arrest you or cite you. Even if you’ve stumbled in your heels and sprained your ankle, hop to house to avoid getting in trouble, and believe me, I saw this happen last year.
5) Don’t be the loud drunk girl: Everyone gets a certain way when they have a little too much to drink. Some get mean, some get funny and a lot of us girls get loud. Every weekend you can hear them parade down DP proudly telling the world just how drunk they are, yelling out “Let’s drink more”. And I’ve actually heard officers yell back, “Drink less!” but on Halloween you’re getting arrested. You’ve actually just pointed your own drunk in public spotlight right at yourself. If you act in control and just walk by officers you’re going to be fine, they know everyone is having a good time. But just don’t feel the need to tell them, cause you might as well say “Where them handcuffs at?”