Officials are gearing up for this year’s Florida State Fair, but before the fun can start, fair organizers are discussing safety and security for Student Day.
Each year, Hillsborough County students receive a day off from school to attend the fair.
It was at 2014’s Student Day that a group of kids got out of control. They were kicked out of the fair as a result. Later, 14-year-old Andrew Joseph, was killed when he was hit by a car when he tried to run across Interstate 4.
Now, the Hillsborough County School District, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and authorities from the Florida State Fair are meeting to implement new rules and safety procedures to prevent incidents like that from happening.
Steve Hegarty, spokesman for Hillsborough County Schools, says there are a lot of changes that were made, making the fair more family friendly and safer.
Students will be shown a public service announcement explaining behavior expectations and new rules. Those rules will also be printed on the back of the Student Day ticket. Parents will also be emailed the new guidelines.
Among the new rules:
- Students in grades 6 and up using a free student day ticket must show a school photo ID to enter the fair.
- One adult may accompany up to four students and will be granted free admission after 6 p.m.
- Additional law enforcement
- New joint operations command center
- 228 live feeds in command center added, additional 100 cameras and additional lighting
- 8 elevated deputy observation platforms
- Widened areas of midway to create room for large crowds
"One of the things that you’re going to see is that after 6 p.m., when you go there with your free ticket to get into the fair, we will require that you have an adult accompany you,” said Hegarty.
Student Day at the Fair is Feb. 6. The fair runs from Feb. 5 to Feb. 16.