CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The United States Secret Service, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police and North Carolina State Highway Patrol released security restrictions and transportation plans Wednesday morning for the Democratic National Convention.
The plan provides the general outlines for road closures, vehicular and pedestrian restrictions and
public transportation.
The press release stated road closures, parking restrictions and changes to public transportation routes and public works services will be necessary during the DNC near Time Warner Cable Arena and the Bank of America Stadium.
Access to the John Belk Freeway between Interstate 77 and Independence Boulevard will be shut down starting at 9:30 a.m. on September 6, the last day of the DNC, according to the press release.
Three vehicle checkpoints also will be set up near Bank of America Stadium that Thursday where President Obama is expected to deliver his nomination speech.
Access to the John Belk Freeway between Interstate 77 and Independence Boulevard will be shut down starting at 9:30 a.m. on September 6, the last day of the DNC, according to the press release.
Three vehicle checkpoints also will be set up near Bank of America Stadium that Thursday where President Obama is expected to deliver his nomination speech.
Parking restricted areas will be posted with “Emergency No Parking” signs. Disabled or abandoned vehicles within these areas will be towed and stored at owner expense. Fencing, other physical barriers and uniformed law enforcement officers will be used to enforce vehicle and pedestrian restricted zones, according to the press release.
Throughout the convention week, the North Carolina Department of Transportation 511 Information Line will have the latest on road conditions and road closures for interstates and state highways.
• East Trade Street from North College Street to North Myers Street
The following streets will be closed beginning at 9 a.m. on Sunday, September 2, ending Thursday, September 6, at approximately 9 a.m.:
• East Trade Street from North College Street to North Myers Street
• East 5th Street from North College Street to North Myers Street
• East 6th Street from North College Street to North Alexander Street
• East 7th Street from North College Street to North Davidson Street
• East 8th Street from North College Street to North Caldwell Street
• South Brevard Street from East 4th Street to East Trade Street
• North Brevard Street from East 5th Street to East 9th Street
• South Caldwell Street from East 4th Street to East Trade Street
• North Caldwell Street from East Trade Street to East 9th Street
• South Davidson Street from East 4th Street to East Trade Street
• North Davidson Street from East Trade Street to East 7th Street
• South Alexander Street from East 4th Street to East Trade Street
• North Alexander Street from East Trade Street to East 6th Street
To see the full security transportation plan -- click here.
CMPD reveals long-awaited DNC security details
Over the past 18 months, CMPD hard remained largely silent about security measures.
“This is a massive undertaking,” Chief Rodney Monroe said Wednesday morning during a press conference.
Monroe said law enforcement agencies from across the country are helping in the security efforts, as well as the North Carolina National Guard.
Police will be protecting up to 1,400 events around the city during that week, including CarolinaFest 2012 on Labor Day and the March on Wall Street South protest on September 2.
They’ll also enforce the new measures associated with the DNC designation as an “extraordinary event.” It allows police within a selected area to stop pedestrians for having any item on a long list: including chains, backpacks, aerosol containers, masks, police scanners, pepper spray or rocks.
“There will be additional checks and balances put in place as it relates to what people may or may not be able to bring into that event,” said Monroe.
He said that officers have been trained to use common sense when enforcing the restrictions.
“We're asking our officers to be very diligent about certain types of items. You won't see wholesale stopping and searching people's backpacks or coolers or things of that nature.”
The “extraordinary event” area is different than first expected. It covers roughly 60 percent of uptown, and stretches from Gateway in the north to Carolinas Medical Center in the south. Its western border is Morehead Street and runs east to CPCC.
Monroe also said police officers will focus on the three schools in uptown that remain open during the convention. They include Irwin, Metro, and First Ward. Monroe said police cruisers will likely escort school buses in uptown.
Over the past 18 months, CMPD hard remained largely silent about security measures.
“This is a massive undertaking,” Chief Rodney Monroe said Wednesday morning during a press conference.
Monroe said law enforcement agencies from across the country are helping in the security efforts, as well as the North Carolina National Guard.
Police will be protecting up to 1,400 events around the city during that week, including CarolinaFest 2012 on Labor Day and the March on Wall Street South protest on September 2.
They’ll also enforce the new measures associated with the DNC designation as an “extraordinary event.” It allows police within a selected area to stop pedestrians for having any item on a long list: including chains, backpacks, aerosol containers, masks, police scanners, pepper spray or rocks.
“There will be additional checks and balances put in place as it relates to what people may or may not be able to bring into that event,” said Monroe.
He said that officers have been trained to use common sense when enforcing the restrictions.
“We're asking our officers to be very diligent about certain types of items. You won't see wholesale stopping and searching people's backpacks or coolers or things of that nature.”
The “extraordinary event” area is different than first expected. It covers roughly 60 percent of uptown, and stretches from Gateway in the north to Carolinas Medical Center in the south. Its western border is Morehead Street and runs east to CPCC.
Monroe also said police officers will focus on the three schools in uptown that remain open during the convention. They include Irwin, Metro, and First Ward. Monroe said police cruisers will likely escort school buses in uptown.
