Santa Cruz approves tripling violation fees for July 4

Santa Cruz City Council approved a citywide safety enhancement designation for July 4 Tuesday night.

The goal is to keep the city safe and clean with thousands of visitors expected.

The measure includes tripling the fees for violations of the city’s municipal code, such as the illegal discharge of fireworks, littering and public consumption of alcohol.

“With the ongoing drought, an increased danger for fire, and the demands placed on our public safety personnel, we believe this is an important, proactive step to help curtail illegal activity,” said Santa Cruz Fire Chief Jeff Trapp.

This is the first time the measure applies citywide. In recent years during major holiday weekends, city council designated beach areas as safety enhancement zones.

Enforcement will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 4, and continue through Sunday, July 6. With additional court costs, fines can range from $200 – $700.