Glass-bottle ban on Strip results in handful of arrests, cleaner sidewalks

By Conor Shine

Tuesday, April 7, 2015 | 2:28 p.m.

Clark County commissioners got a look today at the early results of a decision in September to ban glass bottles and containers from Las Vegas Strip sidewalks.

So far, there have been 13 arrests, seven citations and 58 warnings issued to people consuming beverages from glass containers on sidewalks along Las Vegas Boulevard, Metro Police Capt. Devin Ballard said.

More importantly, he said, there has been a lot less broken glass littering the sidewalks.

The report today comes six months after commissioners voted to ban glass containers from Strip sidewalks to improve safety and clean up the area.

Glass bottles can still be used in Strip casinos, restaurants and bars. But if glass containers are taken onto the sidewalk, they must be in a sealed bag.

Ballard said most people have been cooperative when asked by Metro Police officers to dispose of glass bottles on the Strip.

“The message is out there,” Ballard said. “My officers are giving a warning whenever they initially stop folks — ‘Hey, you can’t have that glass bottle.’”

Of the 13 arrests made under the new law, 11 also involved other criminal charges, Ballard said.

The law will be tested further as tourism picks up in the summer, Ballard said.

Commissioners were generally pleased with the results.

Commissioner Mary Beth Scow wondered if there were ways to better inform people about the ban, possibly through new signs.

“I’m wondering if we need to do more to make our visitors aware of these ordinances,” she said. “I appreciate the warnings, that we’re not just handing out citations when someone is probably doing this unknowingly.”