Page 10, IMPACT, Carnival Supplement

WHAT DOES MARDI GRAS

MEAN TO YOU?

Tom Horner, Writer: "A way to let out pent-up emotions... it's good for the human spirit."2

Sandy Strickland, Real Estate Broker: "The happiest, most exciting, and profitable day of the year."

Annabell Walker, Law Student: "A wonderful tradition. But sharing the concern of native New Orleanians, I don't like the influx of tourists who show no respect for our city by defacing it. Mardi Gras is truly the most unique thing about New Orleans."

Dear Annabell, to make matters worse, I also lost the picture....sorry!

Ernie Lly, Maintenance Engineer: "It's lots of work, but it's lots of work, but it's still wonderful."

Will Koolsbergen, Law Student: "Too much spending of money without any justification and Gay Mardi Gras is like one last giant attempt to be in the spotlight."

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE ARRESTED

YOU HAVE A RIGHT

You're in town for Mardi Gras and having a wonderful time-drinking, revelling in the streets, and suddenly a man in blue approaches you. If you're from out of town and don't have any friends here in New Orleans, what do you do if you're arrested?

Before you panic, there are a few basic rules to remember:

1) Keep quiet and orderly.

2) Be cooperative

3) Answer questions only pertaining to your name, address in town and out of town and any other information which does not incriminate you. You have a right to remain silent.

4) If at all possible, secure a witness's

If the offense is of a minor nature, such as sleeping in a public place, or being drunk and disorderly in public (on Mardi Gras!), the Coalition will inform the person that if he or she doesn't show up for trial the bond is forfeited (which usually ranges from $50-$250). Of course if the person is picked up by the police in Louisiana again, and the computer shows the person as having not shown, there may be considerable legal hassles. Yet it is doubtful that the police would try to track down a Michigan resident for not showing for a minor offense in New Orleans.

Fortunately the criminal courts, the sheriff's office and the police department are quite cooperative in dealing with the Mardi Gras Coalition. There-

Before you panic, there are a few basic rules to remember:

1) Keep quiet and orderly.

2) Be cooperative

3) Answer questions only pertaining to your name, address in town and out of town and any other information which does not incriminate you. You have a right to remain silent.

4) If at all possible, secure a witness's name, address and phone number to the arrest.

5) Don't object to being hauled in.

name, address and phone number to the

arrest.

5) Don't object to being hauled in. If you are arrested, thanks to the New Orleans Mardi Gras Coalition, you won't have to spend your entire stay here in Central Lockup. The Mardi Gras Coalition was organized several years ago by concerned citizens who dedicate their time and energy during the Mardi Gras season to serving out-of-town visitors who get arrested for minor criminal and traffic offenses.

The Coalition only serves out-oftown persons, and only handles the phase of the criminal case pertaining to arraignment, bond setting and arranging of bail, contacting relatives and friends for money; and actually picking up money wired via Western Union and taking it to the jail.

Law students and one lawyer staff the coalition, and, as stated before, do not serve as attorneys of record at any of the trials. Although law students cannot advise the arrested parties, they do give the visitors information concerning the possible consequences of the charges.

fore, they all assist the Coalition's staff in processing the arrests. Usually in 210 hours, the arrested party can be arraigned and the bond set. Then, it is up to the persons contacted on behalf of the arrested party to get the necessary money wired or delivered to the Coalition or to the defendant.

Although, as of the writing of this article, the Mardi Gras Coalition's phone number is not yet listed, it will be posted at the jail, and will be available shortly from Directory Assistance.

For those of you who are in-town. residents, if you are arrested during the long Mardi Gras weekend, your best bet is to call a friend or a relative to post bond. To find a local attorney during the peak of Mardi Gras will be difficult and expensive, at the least. Call an attorney after Mardi Gras to handle the trial, but you'll save yourself the time, money, and trouble to have a friend or family

bail you out in the interval stages of the

case.

-Paula Perrone Legal Editor

Diane DiMicelli: "People masking, parades, tourists, a gay time, and always out of town guests."

Charles Bartholomew, Railroad Employee: "Mardi Gras is the great epitomy of New Orleans. Complete and utter abandonment of everything and really nothing to do with gay or straight just fun."

Billy Parker: "A gay time with every-

one having a beautiful time."

Floyde Flowerian, Bardenter: "Nothing."