San Francisco looks forward to ringing in 2019
SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) - The clock is ticking as we are just hours away from 2019 and San Francisco is preparing to ring in the New Year.
The city has already put up barricades, and police will be out in force both in uniform and plainclothes. They say they will have police in uniform and plain clothes in the crowd.
Around the world they have been ringing in the new year and in just hours it will be San Francisco's turn with a massive fireworks show and big crowds.
San Francisco police say with those big crowds they're on high alert.
"At this point we don't have any information about any credible threats, however we do work with our state and federal partners especially on days like this," said Robert Rueca from the San Francisco Police Department.
The city has barricades and will be shutting downs streets in the Embarcadero area as necessary.
Officers say they will be on the lookout for open container and public intoxication and the city is discouraging crowds from traveling to Treasure Island to watch the fireworks. There's construction as well as limited space, with everyone trying to get on and off the freeway, that's just going to cause a huge hazard," said Rueca.
California Highway Patrol will also be out in force on New Year's Eve. In year's past, drivers have stopped on the Bay Bridge at midnight to watch the fireworks show. Officers will be on the bridge to keep those would-be-watchers moving.
"Do not stop on the Bay Bridge," said Bert Diaz from the California Highway Patrol. "We will have officers out there patrolling and making sure we keep traffic flowing."
There is also a wind advisory in effect until 9 p.m. Monday. CHP advises drivers to slow down.
But their priority will be monitoring the Bay Area's highways and roads for impaired drivers.
This year with the legalization of cannabis sales that doesn't just mean drunk driving. "So we're looking for distracted driving, we're looking for impaired driving, drunk, drugged driving, that's the message; zero tolerance," said Diaz
Investigators say there is zero tolerance and no excuses with rideshare options and many transit agencies preparing for a busy night.
"We will be running extra service in our subway and on our most popular owl lines," said Erica Kato from San Francisco's Municipal Transportation Agency. "So, beginning at 8 p.m. tonight people will see that extra service and Muni will be free until 5 a.m. tomorrow morning."
SFPD is also going high tech this year to keep New Year's revelers in the loop. They're asking people to text "NYESF"- to the number 888-777.
That opts you in to receive emergency alerts from the city this New Years Eve.