“California Alcoholic Beverage Control agents have routinely assisted local law enforcement officers with patrol and enforcement at this event known as Deltopia. The goal is to keep those celebrating spring break, along with the entire community, safe from harm. ABC agents are very familiar with working in large celebratory crowds that involve young people and the consumption of alcohol.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY – On April 5, 2022, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office released preliminary numbers related to the unsanctioned spring break party in Isla Vista known as Deltopia. The Deltopia weekend this year started on Friday, April 1st through Sunday, April 3rd. During this time period, the Sheriff’s Office had a total of 34 citations issued and 4 arrests. A breakdown of the charges are as follows:
| CITATION CHARGES | ARREST CHARGES | |||
| Minor in Possession of Alcohol | 14 | Possess Controlled Substance | 2 | |
| Drinking in Public | 1 | Criminal Threats | 1 | |
| Open Container | 13 | Drunk in Public | 1 | |
| Noise Ordinance | 1 | Possession of Barbiturates for Sale | 1 | |
| False ID to an Officer | 2 | Obstruct/Resist Officer | 1 | |
| Possession of Fake ID | 3 | Petty Theft | 1 | |
| Festival Ordinance | 1 | Total Persons Arrested1 | 4 | |
| Public Nuisance | 2 | |||
| Possess Nitrous Oxide | 1 | Reports | 16 | |
| Failure to Yield | 1 | Parking Citations | 84 | |
| Total Persons Cited[1] | 34 | Towed Vehicles | 8 | |
The Sheriff’s Office reports that the crowds were largest on Saturday and significantly higher than the past two years during the Covid-19 pandemic. A majority of partygoers were at residences along the ocean side of Del Playa. The Sheriff’s Office worked with County Fire and County Air Support to assess the safety of the party locations and were prepared to assist in vacating patios they deemed a hazard.
During this same time, there was an increase in emergency medical calls, the majority of which were for acute alcohol intoxication, that resulted in the shift of medical response to a triage system in the Isla Vista area. Deputies assisted fire and medics by clearing the roadways for their response. Medical calls began to dwindle just before the Outdoor Festival Ordinance went into effect at 6 p.m. A majority of the residents were compliant with the ordinance and turned their music off before 6 p.m.
The Sheriff’s Office expressed its gratitude to the first responders from Santa Barbara County Fire, American Medical Response, California Alcoholic Beverage Control, University of California Police, and the California Highway Patrol who have been a part of the continued effort to keep celebrations in Isla Vista safe and local.
[1] Total includes persons cited or arrested for multiple charges
