Recent ordinances passed by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors in December 2023 concerning “consistent party-related issues” will bring significant changes to the Isla Vista Foot Patrol’s (IVFP) policing ability in Isla Vista. The ordinances, which went into effect on February 10, restrict certain party events in Isla Vista, specifically “outdoor festivals,” defined as events open to the public for free or at a cost and attended by five hundred people or more.
Restrictions passed by the county prohibit outdoor festivals and any other live musical performance with more than 250 attendees at any and all residential properties — violators of the ordinances will be subjected to citation or arrest. Additionally, any violators holding an outdoor festival that sells alcohol will be charged with a misdemeanor and face possible arrests.
Tasked with overseeing enforcement of these new ordinances is Lieutenant Garrett TeSlaa, who has served as the IVFP bureau commander since 2022. He recently sat down with the Independent to discuss these ordinances and the unique policing of the I.V. community.