Role of Law Enforcement in Your Race Planning
Local law enforcement plays a key role in the race planning process and involvement is essential if you hope to include roadways in your course. If you are using an outside source to help you implement the event and are holding it at a local park or another location away from traffic, the role may be less prominent. However, approaching this group during your planning process is one task that needs to go on your to-do list.
It is a good idea to have some details set before approaching your local police department. This will save you both time and you will be less likely to neglect asking important questions during your initial meeting.
Your first step is to place a phone call to the department. Explain that you are hoping to hold a race and find out who you need to speak to. In some cases a phone call and quick discussion is all you will need. This is especially true if you live in a community where runs and walks are planned on a regular basis. Otherwise, you will likely have to pay their offices a visit and meet face-to-face.
These are a few things you will want to have narrowed down before your phone conversation or meeting.
Proposed route. Know what your ideal route would be. The law enforcement representative may steer you in a different direction based on safety and traffic flow patterns, but have one or two routes in mind going in.
Number of participants. This is always difficult when planning your first event, but do your best to estimate. Ask for numbers from other organizations who have planned similar events and evaluate the attendance numbers for other fundraisers you have hosted. Use these resources to come up with some kind of realistic estimate. This is especially important from a planning perspective when it comes to parking. You’ll want your start and stop line to be accessible to participants.
Extra security. You can work out necessary traffic regulation at stop lights and along roadways with the officer, but you’ll need to determine if you extra security is necessary. Will you be setting up tents and tables outdoors the night before the event? Will you and your staff be arriving or leaving early or late when it may be dark out? Will you have a large amount of cash on you at the event from race day registrations? All of these situations may warrant extra security from an officer even if it only requires that someone swing by and check in.
Other events. Maybe your race is just one part of a bigger event. For example, will you have an after party, music that requires a stage, or a large health fair? Some of these types of events may require permission of entities within your local government and law enforcement.
Once you have these details set, get in touch with your police department as early as possible in the planning process. In some cases your organization will need to hire an officer to do the work and this is something that you will need to include in your event budget.
Photo by Dawn-Pink Chick
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