After years of drunken incidents at the Hoboken St.Patrick’s Parade which takes place this Saturday March 5th, a major police crackdown will occur this year.

Anthony Falco the police chief of the New Jersey city just across the Hudson from Manhattan, has taken the unprecedented step of a public letter warning revellers to behave or else. Thousands come from Manhattan to Hoboken for the day.

Falco stated in the letter that  in order to ‘keep the city under control his officers will be strictly enforcing public drunkenness laws and that there will be ‘zero tolerance’ of any bad behavior..”

Falco wrote “In order to keep our city under control and create a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone, I will have most of my officers working on that day, out on our streets, on patrol. My officers will be strictly enforcing all criminal and motor vehicle laws as well as all city ordinance violations.

The following are four violations where there will be a zero tolerance policy in effect for the day:

1) Any person seen possessing an open container of alcohol in public faces maximum penalties of a fine up to $2,000, and the possible sentence of having to perform Community Service.

2) Any person observed urinating on public streets, sidewalks or in parks faces maximum penalties of a fine up to $2,000, and the possible sentence of having to perform Community Service.

3) House parties have become our largest problem on the parade day. Last year my officers responded to 533 calls for service, with most of those calls being disorderly house parties. This year, when a party is deemed to be unreasonably reckless, disorderly and unsafe, the renter or owner of the apartment or house will be charged with this ordinance. Along with the issuing of the summons, the Hoboken Police Department will shut the party down and clear out the apartment or house if it is determined that it is a hazardous or reckless condition. The maximum penalties for this violation is a fine of up to $2000 and the possibility of having to perform Community Service.

4A Person is guilty of disorderly conduct if “with purpose to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof he, 1) Engages in fighting or threatening, or in violent or tumultuous behavior, or 2) Creates a hazardous or physically dangerous condition by any act which serves no legitimate purpose.” This offense carries maximum penalties of a 30 day prison term and a fine not to exceed $500.

I ask all the residents and guests of our city to please be considerate to everyone on this day, and to inform all family and friends to act respectful and orderly. Sincerely,

Chief Anthony P. Falco Sr.