Bad Santas — At Least 33 Busted For Open Containers

photo of an NYPD officer giving a summons to a Santa in Washington Square Park yesterday, via dietrich's flickr

Some of the Santas in the costumed Santacon bar crawl yesterday were naughty, according to police sources. An NYPD spokeswoman tells Gothamist that officers cracked down on holiday-clad revelers who were boozing in public in Washington Square Park. "There were 33 criminal court summonses issued for open containers," she said. "All of these were in the confines of the 6th Precinct."

That goes along well with police scanner reports Saturday afternoon of a "large disorderly group" in Washington Square Park — as well as Twitter messages like this dispatch by NYaise: "Don't go to washington sq cops ticketing like whoa. Crash mountain."

New York City's open-container law prohibits boozing in any public place and can result in a $25 fine or five days in jail. One Gothamist commenter claimed this afternoon that some participants in Santacon — which also doubles as a canned food drive — spent the night behind bars. "I just got home from SantaCon an hour ago. It was complete Santarchy! I heard central booking was filled with Santa's by the end of last night. Ho Ho Ho!"

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Ben Muessig in News on December 13, 2009 3:50 PM

Comments [rss]

Aaron

Hmmm, putting someone in jail for 5 days for having an open container. I know as a taxpayer that I can get behind that egregious waste of funds!

zodak

the problem was with the main santacon website: it needs to emphasize not breaking the law, the santacon organizers need to do a better job of spreading that message or this will be shut down by cops the way the pillow fight was this year.

billybob

here you go, Marshmallow!

now go back to williamsburg!

felixthecat2

Great Photo. love it!

NannyState

This always happens whenever the NYPD conducts one of its annual chimney sweeps...

zodak

hipster morons, did they think the laws get suspended just for them?

marchug

hipsters? all i saw were frat boys and australians. people like you just can't wait to use the word hipster can you?

emilydickinson

I do know personally of one person who was cuffed and brought in. They were doing something a lot dumber than having an open container. I imagine they weren't the only one. By the time it got dark a lot of people were way beyond their limits.

I'm actually surprised the NYPD only wrote 33 open container tickets, because lots of people were drinking in openly in public. I have to say the cops were cool about the whole thing. I had a flask, and the police gave me zero guff. The people I saw get tickets didn't even bother to have a brown paper bag, they were just being belligerent. If you're standing on top of an overturned garbage can in Washington Sq. park with an open bottle of Old E you probably deserve a ticket.

JacqueMehoff

I hope they're happy that they voted for bloomberg.

felixthecat2

keep fighting the good fight!

pinball29

Its the end of the year, so the officers need to meet their Bloomberg ticket quotas. This was their Christmas gift. When they finished handing out the tickets, they all went to the bar to celebrate before driving home.

jaycjay

Citation-writing goals are monthly and sometimes -- as they trickle down to the individual level -- weekly or even daily, but not annual.

Er... I mean, there are no quotas.

AJ

That's a priceless photo. Gotta love Dietrich has his master ability for getting the shot.

MrManhattan

33 tickets for an offense that any New Yorker, who isn't blind sees every day. $25 ticket.

No disorderly conduct, no vandalism, no assaults.

I would bet that every single Rangers game, and virtually any sunny day on the Jersey Shore (to only mention two other types of gatherings) puts that statistic to shame. And they don't collect food for the hungry, or add a little color (even if it's only red) to the city.

I didn't go this year (work to do) but I happened upon it last year by accident, and had a great time, and got some priceless pictures.

openheads

Your need to mention New Jersey in every post you participate in has become down right compulsive.

Mr. Manhattan is addicted to New Jersey.

MrManhattan

Hmmm, I mention a place with over 8 million people and covers over 7,500 square miles, and you reply every time I (population:1, covering less than four square feet) do it.

Better look up "compulsion".

But seriously, this is the closest thing to a stalker I've had since back in the '70's when that psycho chick carved my name in her arm because I was in a rock band (and for the record, she was from Connecticut!) Please don't get any ideas, I heard the infection was pretty bad.

openheads

Spin it anyway you like my friend. What ever makes you feel better.

You bring up NJ when it has absolutely no connection to the story on a regular basis. It's your favorite topic.

You reach for any & every lame NJ connection to a story, trying to tie in a hamfisted joke that rarely works.

I just don't understand the motivation.

MrManhattan

Funny, now I'm feeling motivated to hire extra security.

marcasm

That photo is priceless, it should have thought bubbles.

Blonde Santa: "Ticket ? Back home we always drink in public !"

Cop: "What are you willing to do to make this go away ?"

irvinghowe

gotta love the pure disdain on the cop's face. at least she'll have a story to tell at the water cooler.

jaycjay

". One Gothamist commenter claimed this afternoon that some participants in Santacon — which also doubles as a canned food drive — spent the night behind bars."

More accurately, one commenter claimed to have heard a rumor. Or maybe was just making something up because it would seem like a funny situation: holding cells filled with people in Santa suits.