Fat Tuesday is just around the corner, so what better way to prepare than to take our T.G.I.FindLaw! "Phat Friday" Mardi Gras Legal Quiz?
From the number of police in the French Quarter to the number of attorneys in the 'Nawlins bar, see how many Mardi Gras- and law-related trivia questions you get right:
The Questions
1. What proportion of New Orleans police officers will be deployed to the French Quarter for Mardi Gras?
A. One-quarter of the force.
B. One-third of the force.
C. One-half of the force.
D. The entire force.
2. How many revelers did New Orleans police arrest for "lewd conduct" during Mardi Gras in 2011?
A. 75 people.
B. 150 people.
C. 300 people.
D. 500 people.
3. What's the mandatory prison sentence if you're convicted of discharging a firearm at a parade in Louisiana?
A. 1 year.
B. 2 years.
C. 3 years.
D. 4 years.
4. What does New Orleans law say about open containers?
A. In general, the city lacks strict open container laws.
B. The city requires people who drink alcohol on streets and sidewalks in the French Quarter to do so only from plastic cups.
C. The city prohibits drinking alcohol in a parking lot.
D. All of the above.
5. How many attorneys are members of the New Orleans Bar Association?
A. 1,800.
B. 2,800.
C. 3,800.
D. 4,800.
Mardi Gras Legal Quiz Answers
1. The answer is B: One-third of the New Orleans police force is set to be deployed in the French Quarter, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. They will work 12-hour shifts, and will be accompanied by 130 state troopers.
2. The answer is A: 75 people were arrested during Mardi Gras 2011 for "lewd conduct," which can include indecent exposure and drunk and disorderly behavior, according to the Times-Picayune. That's more than twice the number arrested in 2010, when police made 35 lewd-conduct arrests.
3. The answer is C: Reckless discharge of a firearm at a parade gets a mandatory three-year prison sentence, according to the New Orleans Police Department. Illegally carrying a firearm at a parade can also land you in prison for at least a year.
4. The answer is D: All of the listed open-container provisions apply in New Orleans. For more information, check out FindLaw's page on Open Container Laws.
5. The answer is B: 2,800 lawyers comprise the New Orleans Bar Association, according to the group's website.
Which reminds us, you may want to consult a New Orleans attorney if your trip to the Big Easy somehow lands you in the big house. Otherwise, have a safe and enjoyable Mardi Gras.
Related Resources:
- Laws That Parade Goers Need To Know (New Orleans Police Department)
- Top 5 Crimes Not to Commit During Mardi Gras (FindLaw's Blotter)
- Remember, Reptiles Banned from Mardi Gras Parades (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- New Orleans, LA Criminal Defense Lawyers, Attorneys and Law Firms (FindLaw)
