The Minnesota State Fair is only a day away! In an effort to cut down on crime and keep fair-goers safe, the State Fair Board has made some changes for the 2016 fair.
Here’s a look at some of the new measures that are in place for this year’s Great Minnesota Get-Together:
- The State Fair is expanding its security check program to include all bags, purses, coolers and packages. All 11 entrances will have security checking any of the above items, keeping an eye out for weapons, fireworks, alcoholic beverages, drones, bikes, skateboards, hoverboards or anything else the that security officials deem prohibited.
- The State Fair has added more security staff to the grounds. More than 100 additional security staff have been hired from three different professional security contractors.
- More than 300 licensed police officers from across the state will be working the fairgrounds.
- More cameras have been installed to keep an eye out for criminal activity, and many of the new cameras are mobile in order to keep a closer eye on more areas of the fair.
“The number of cameras do not always tell the story. It’s what you do with them and our cameras are mobile,” said Minnesota State Fair General Manager Jerry Hammer.
Staying Safe At The Fair
Staying safe at the fair also comes down to making smart decisions and being aware of your surroundings. As we mentioned in a previous post titled “Crime at the Minnesota State Fair,” fairgoers need to be conscious of a few things while in the grounds. Head over to the above blog post for a full recap, but here’s a short synopsis:
1. Monitor Your Alcohol Intake – Specialty and heavy beers mean your may be over the limit after only 1 or 2 beers. Be smart about your alcohol consumption.
2. Lock Your Car Doors – An unlocked car is an easy target for thieves. All it takes is two seconds to lock your car doors. If you have valuables with you, put them in your trunk or cover them so they aren’t in plain sight.
3. Safe Rides – If you do end up consuming a few beers, please consider taking public transportation or a cab home. There are thousands of people crossing streets and crosswalks, and a poor decision to drive home can have lifelong consequences.
