Mardi Gras beads banned on Mill Avenue [size=-1]03/04/2003 [/size] No doubt there will be a Mardi Gras party in Arizona, especially on Mill Avenue, but Tempe police are trying to tone down one famous tradition.
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Rain and worry won't stop Mardi Gras Recently, police issued a letter to about 200 merchants, including bars and restaurants, in downtown Tempe, asking merchants not to issue beads because of safety reasons, specifically to women who bare all to receive them.
Sgt. Dan Masters of the Tempe Police Department said that in New Orleans it's part of Mardi Gras behavior, but it can lead to criminal behavior.
Most Tempe residents say they weren't happy about the new policy and say it should be a woman's decision.
A lot of bars and restaurants didn't seem to mind the changes and said they will not encourage nudity.
Since the beads are off the menu, merchants say they will offer other crowd pleasers, such as masks, stuffed bears and T-shirts.
The Beads and Nudity are the best part of Mardi Gras.
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Sgt. Dan Masters of the Tempe Police Department said that in New Orleans it's part of Mardi Gras behavior, but it can lead to criminal behavior.
Most Tempe residents say they weren't happy about the new policy and say it should be a woman's decision.
A lot of bars and restaurants didn't seem to mind the changes and said they will not encourage nudity.
Since the beads are off the menu, merchants say they will offer other crowd pleasers, such as masks, stuffed bears and T-shirts.
The Beads and Nudity are the best part of Mardi Gras.