NYE Rave Tests New Rules

Just two months after commissioners lifted a moratorium on raves at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, at least 17 people were hospitalized during a New Year’s Eve event that reportedly drew a crowd of 45,000 to the venue.

Authorities told the Los Angeles Times more than 60 partygoers were treated on the scene at the annual Together As One electronic music festival for a “broad spectrum between injury and illness.”

Police at the fest also made 25 arrests. Of those arrested, 15 were hospitalized for drug-related emergencies, the paper said. No fatalities were reported at the event.

Members of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission banned rave events following the death of a teen concertgoer at the Electric Daisy Carnival at the Coliseum in June.

The commission voted to reinstate such events in November, instituting several safety precautions that were reportedly in place for Together As One.

New safety measures for the fest included an 18-and-over age limit, amnesty boxes to deposit illegal drugs and increased police, fire and emergency personnel at the concert.

Commissioner Zev Yaroslavsky praised the new measures, telling the paper arrests and hospital visits in connection with this year’s Together As One were down by at least half compared with last year.

“I think this was the best-planned response that we’ve had at any of these events,” he said.