Yes, you can still take selfies on the Las Vegas Strip
Tourists hoping to take selfies on pedestrian bridges along the Las Vegas Strip may appear to run the risk of breaking a new law, but officials say they shouldn’t worry.
The Clark County Commission passed an ordinance this week that prohibits stopping or standing on these overpasses or engaging in other activities that slow foot traffic. The ordinance, approved in a unanimous 7-0 vote Tuesday, calls for creating “flow zones” on the Strip’s 15 bridges and up to 20 feet on surrounding stairs, escalators or other areas. There are exceptions for stopping for short periods of time that will accommodate people waiting to use the stairs or tying their shoes.
“The Pedestrian Flow Zone ordinance will help to ensure our world-class tourism destination remains a safe place for people to visit,” Jennifer Cooper, Clark County’s chief communications and strategy officer, said in a statement.
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County officials have said that the ordinance is intended to reduce crime and enhance safety by encouraging continuous, free movement for pedestrians. People who violate the ordinance could face a misdemeanor charge. If found guilty, they could face up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
However, Clark County officials said the ordinance should not be interpreted to mean that pedestrians can’t take photos along Las Vegas Boulevard while on a pedestrian bridge. A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson said they will continue to conduct regular patrol of the bridges and surrounding areas throughout the Strip, and will encourage pedestrians to voluntarily comply with the ordinance. A pedestrian arrest or citation would be issued on the “rare occasion” that the officer’s warning is objected.
Restrictions on the Las Vegas Strip come shortly after pedestrians crowded the area’s pedestrian bridges for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The city expects to see hundreds of thousands of visitors for the Super Bowl next month.
The vote in Las Vegas follows a slew of measures that have been taken in heavily trafficked tourist destinations across the United States to deter overcrowding, disruptive behavior, traffic and activities that could disturb areas’ surroundings.
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In Southern California, officials voted in September to restrict public access to Point La Jolla and Boomer Beach to prevent people from making contact with the area’s sea lions, who were sometimes subject to harassment and direct contact from visitors. There were also road closures that same month at Sleepy Hollow Farm in Pomfret, Vt., that were aimed at reducing tourist traffic during leaf-peeping season because of safety concerns from officials and residents. Even in Austria, the village of Hallstatt built a temporary fence aimed at discouraging tourist photos.
Andrew Walsh, undersheriff with the LVMPD, said during the commission meeting that the county has been concerned about congestion on pedestrian bridges with the area’s growing number of tourists and large-scale events.
Walsh said congestion makes it harder for officers to pass through the bridge if they need to respond to calls from resorts. If there’s a call involving an active shooter, crowds might come rushing out. “If there were folks standing or congregating on those bridges, standing with property on those bridges, it would be very difficult for people to use,” he said.
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Several local and statewide groups have opposed the ordinance, saying that research behind the measure is vague and that enforcing it would encourage unwarranted stops by police.
A study conducted by William Sousa, a criminal justice professor at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, said law enforcement calls for disorder-related activities on the Las Vegas Strip increased 23 percent between 2018 and 2022. Some of those complaints involved illegal vendors, drug-related activities and con games, as well as “aggressive” panhandlers and street performers.
Sousa said in an interview with The Washington Post that the bridge’s narrow structure can make it vulnerable to disorderly conduct, especially when you factor in the area’s already high congestion and attractive views of the Strip’s resorts and hotels.
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“You have very few options in terms of maneuvering your way around obstructions and essentially have to negotiate your way through it,” he said.
Athar Haseebullah, executive director of American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, said the county’s data is “flawed.” He suggested data used to support the ordinance should be specific to increased incidents on pedestrian bridges and should also take note of the people and agencies making these calls. The report does specify that pedestrian bridges make up 11 percent of disorder calls. Haseebullah said that is not significant enough.
“What you heard was a presentation that suggested that there’s data surrounding dangerous conduct, negative behavior and increased elements surrounding crime stats being up on these bridges. You haven’t heard any specificity in respect to what that crime looks like. These are general anecdotes,” he said at the meeting.
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Haseebullah told The Post that the ACLU and other groups will litigate against the ordinance. He also expects the Nevada Supreme Court to take on this issue because it relates to First Amendment violations.
Eve Hanan, who leads the Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic’s Misdemeanor Clinic, said at the commission meeting that problems related to pedestrian flow should be solved by urban planners, not enforced through criminalization and police. Haseebullah said groups are also concerned about accessibility for those who are disabled and need to use the bridge, because they might need to stop while crossing or take longer to do so.
“It’s another carceral policy that’s put in place,” Haseebullah said.
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