At a Tuesday morning press conference, Mayor Rosemary Waldorf outlined safety precautions for Wednesday night that will include traffic barricades, individual searches and decontamination centers.
The centers will be located along Franklin Street for passers-by who might be concerned they have contracted a biological disease.
In addition to heightened security, local officials are planning to treat hoaxes involving biological or chemical hazards as real crimes.
Waldorf also said that in respect to the events of Sept. 11, there will be a ban on any item that can be interpreted as a weapon. She asked people to be sensitive when choosing costumes in times such as these.
At checkpoints surrounding the downtown area police will search all containers, such as coolers, backpacks and bags, looking for suspect items. Among those objects not permitted past the check points are alcoholic beverages, glass bottles, fireworks, weapons, paint or dogs.
"Anybody who does not allow a search will not be permitted in," Jarvies said.
Chapel Hill Fire Chief Dan Jones emphasized the need for a smaller crowd on Halloween night so the fire department can devote more of its resources to local calls.
Last year, the total cost for town authorities to manage Halloween was $75,000. This year officials speculate that the event's cost could be more than $100,000 and will involve 500 personnel members -- 85 percent from the Chapel Hill police force. In addition, police officers will be brought in from surrounding counties.
Waldorf said the intent of the measures is to promote safety and reduce the total size of the crowd, which last year was estimated at 50,000 people and more than 60,000 in 1999.
At the discretion of the police, traffic likely will be restricted starting this afternoon. In a 1 1/2 mile radius from the downtown area, only Chapel Hill residents, their guests and people who work in the Chapel Hill area will be given passage. Motorists will need to present identification in order to pass through barricades. Estes Drive and Merritt Mill Road will be barricaded, and police only will allow in residents. Around the downtown area all traffic and public parking will be banned.
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