Santa Barbara authorities plan to sink annual beach party near university
By APWednesday, April 7, 2010
Authorities plan to sink Santa Barbara’s Floatopia
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Authorities say they plan to close access points to popular beaches near the University of California, Santa Barbara in an effort to shut down a massive beach party known as Floatopia.
As many as 12,000 revelers gathered last year in what the Santa Barbara County parks director described as “unmitigated chaos.”
Sheriff Bill Brown says 78 citations were handed out for alcohol-related crimes and there were 13 arrests. He says 33 partygoers were hospitalized for alcohol poisoning, heat exposure and cuts.
The celebration began about five years ago with several hundred people drinking just offshore on rubber rafts and inner tubes. It exploded over the last few years with the help of social media Web sites.
This year’s Floatopia is scheduled for Saturday.
Information from: Los Angeles Times, www.latimes.com
