Mauston PD discourages residents from holding unauthorized parade amid city’s COVID-19 cancellation
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - While the Mauston Police Department shared it too was disappointed over the cancellation of the city’s holiday parade due to COVID-19, it had one message for residents who say they want to have the parade on their own regardless.
“Don’t do this.”
City officials posted just hours before the parade was set to start that it would be canceled, adding that the Holiday Train Viewing Party set for Dec. 18, more than two weeks from now, will also be scratched. The city cited that the county has the worst COVID case counts in the state in explaining why the parade was cancelled.
Community members like Krystal Simer, who could not unveil their floats in the city parade, had planned for the impromptu event of their own.
“Ever since I was little I remember going to a parade,” she said, “and I just want kids to experience the whole holiday tradition of going to the parade and having something to do other than just gifts.”
Instead of driving around town, Simer and her family turned on the holiday lights and passed out candy from a parking lot. “We figured if we station ourselves here we could be safe and everybody could come here and experience Santa,” she said.
Mauston Police Department said they trust that the decision was not made lightly. While they won’t persuade people on what to do when it comes to COVID-19, the department referenced their duty to ensure the safety of its citizens and discouraged them from having their own parade.
“It is not safe. There will be no traffic control as all streets will be open for regular vehicular traffic,” police stated. “As roads will not be closed for a parade this evening, there will be no protections in place for those who wish to partake in an unauthorized parade.”
Mauston Police also noted roads are not closed now that the parade is canceled, meaning normal rules of the road apply.
While the department said they were not threatening citations with this messaging, it pressed people to follow all rules of traffic that could be risked in an “uncontrolled environment.”
Thee department listed these possible citations:
- 346.28 Pedestrians to walk on left side of highway
- 346.59 Impeding traffic
- 346.92 Illegal riding
- 346.922 Children in cargo areas of trucks under 16 years of age
- 348.09(1) Projecting loads on side of vehicles
- 348.10(5)(a) Special limitations on load
- 348.10 Fail to properly secure load
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