Some Dallas Parade Guidelines as an Example for Safety Planning

The Dallas safety guidelines for parade organizers run to about 40 specific safety items. Our Houston accident injury attorneys note that the very first item requires an experienced Parade Marshall for the event.

• The Parade Marshall is responsible for getting approval from the Dallas Police Department and Dallas Fire Rescue Department for the proposed parade route. And the route approval also must be coordinated through the Office of Special Events. To be approved, parade routes generally must avoid crossing the DART rail tracks.

• An Event Plan has to be submitted to the Office of Special Events, which then disseminates it appropriate City departments for review. The Event Plan must contain a Crowd Management and Emergency Contingency review from the Dallas Police Department and Office of Emergency Preparedness.

• The Houston accident injury attorneys at Denena Points, PC mention that the Parade Marshall must have a sufficient number of easily identifiable volunteers and assistants along the parade route.

• The Parade Marshall also has to meet with parade participants before the event to discuss all parade restrictions and requirements.

• For parades where more then 2,000 people are expected to attend, the parade planners must broadcast through media channels the event schedule, route, first aid locations, restroom locations, and parade rules.

• Our Houston accident injury attorneys emphasize that parade participants are prohibited from using silly string, squirt guns, and other items that could lead to crowd control issues, as well as from throwing candy or other items from the floats to the crowd. These prohibited activities, while they seem like harmless fun, have been known to lead to serious fights, injuries, and even fatalities when, for instance, people dash out in front of moving vehicles to try to catch beads or other items.

• All materials used for the parade floats need to be flame retardant and in compliance with the City Code and other applicable parade and event standards.

• Generators and other equipment using combustible fuels are not allowed on the floats.

• Float drivers must have a valid Texas driver’s license and proof of liability insurance. In addition, our Houston accident injury attorneys report that Dallas Fire Rescue inspects all vehicles to be used in the parade.

• A float can be no wider than 12 feet while in the parade or 8 feet while being towed without permit and police escort anywhere else in the City of Dallas. In height, the tallest part of the deck people can stand on is to be no taller than 4 feet from the ground. No prop or item added to the deck can be taller than 12 feet from the top of the highest point to the ground. The Houston accident injury attorneys at Denena Points, PC remark that this restriction exists because of the danger off the high-voltage DART rail wire downtown.

• All float participants standing on floats or any other motorized vehicles must wear safety belts, have hand holds or vertical stanchions mounted to the float chassis with a u-shaped piece welded to the top bracket, or back supports securing them in place while the float or vehicles are in motion.

• No ticker tape or confetti to be used on the actual parade route by parade participants during the parade due to the creation of fire hazards, engine air-intake problems and clean-up costs.

• The Dallas Police Department and Dallas Fire Rescue Department may exercise the authority to ‘veto’ any aspect of the parade that they feel poses an unreasonable risk of injury or danger to the public.

• At least one type ABC (2A20BC) fire extinguisher is to be located within easy access on each float.

• The Command Post with appropriate safety personnel, equipment, and communications channels must be established for all parades where 20,000 or more are expected to attend. If the Dallas Police believe it necessary, our Houston accident injury attorneys note that aerial spotters on buildings and in aircraft may be added to the detail. They will also need to be in communication with the Command Post.

• A sufficient number of police motorcycle officers must be hired to continuously ‘ride the barricades’ to enforce keeping the parade route clear of spectators.

• Most medium and large parades should have a Dallas Fire Rescue Department engine as the last unit in the parade, followed only by a police car
• The Dallas Police Department, as part of its planning for large events, will review a crowd disbursement plan in addition to routine security anticipation.

The extensive safety planning requirements listed above are actually only an excerpt from the extensive list parade organizers must follow. The guidelines allow Dallas Police and Fire Rescue personnel to pull any vehicles or participants out of the parade if they don’t comply with safety standards. There are also some regulations regarding cleanup, trash containers, portable toilets, and pooper scoopers if horses are in the parade, as well as requirements regarding the types of trailer hitches to be used to pull floats, and spreading viewers over a reasonable parade router to avoid overcrowding, among other safety specifics. (Source: CES-PRO-302 Rev.2, Effective 06/26/13 City of Dallas, Convention and Event Services, Office of Special Events)