Patrols added for festivities

Spokane police are teaming up with other agencies to provide extra patrols during and after today’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, police spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee said.

In addition, police will work with state liquor agents and the Spokane fire marshal to keep an eye on downtown bars and taverns, Lee said. Officers and agents will be watching for problems including over service of alcohol and lewd behavior of patrons. The fire marshal will be looking for overcrowding.

During the parade, several downtown streets will be closed from morning until midafternoon. The parade starts at noon at Boone and Washington. The route is south on Washington to Spokane Falls Boulevard, where it turns east then south on Bernard and west onto Main. Then it’s north on Stevens to Spokane Falls and north on Post to where it ends near Lincoln and Broadway.

Drivers will need to move cars off those roads by early morning today or they will be towed.