Police prepare for influx of weekend traffic

Police prepare for influx of weekend traffic


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SALT LAKE CITY -- Salt Lake City police think parking, not protesters is likely to be one of their biggest issues this weekend, as the 179th Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints begins.

More than 100,000 people will file in and out of the Conference Center downtown. It's expected they'll move past the usual contingent of protesters assembled at free-speech zones near Temple Square.

Police spokeswoman Lara Jones says there's not a lot out there to support earlier rumors that large groups would turn out to protest the Church's involvement in supporting California's Proposition 8. She says the weather could also chill some protest plans. The forecast is calling for snow through Saturday.

Jones says 17 motor squad officers and 18 public order officers will be on hand, as they are during every conference session. Others will be on call if needed. "That's a huge influx of people into the downtown area, so that's what we're there to pay attention to. More people, more cars, more pedestrians, more vehicle interactions, so we want to make sure everybody comes and goes safely."

Jones says traffic and parking-related issues usually generate the most calls. She urges people to carpool or take public transportation downtown if they can. If they're parking, she says people should make sure they look around for signs and make sure they're not parked illegally. She says police don't go actively looking for violators, but they do respond to complaints.

E-mail: mgiauque@ksl.com

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Marc Giauque

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