California Mayor Says Poppy Viewers Could Face Arrest

California Mayor Says Poppy Viewers Could Face Arrest
After chaos of 2019 'super bloom,' Lake Elsinore wants visitors to stay away



A small California city that was overrun by visitors four years ago when heavy winter rains produced a "super bloom" of wild poppies has a message for the public after this year's deluge: Do not come.

You could be arrested. The poppies are beginning to bloom but so far on a small scale—and the canyon where they grow and parking areas are now completely off-limits, Lake Elsinore Mayor Natasha Johnson told a press conference where she recounted the chaos of 2019. "The flowers were beautiful; the scene was a nightmare," Johnson said. "This weekend I encourage you to focus on the Super Bowl and not the super bloom that we’re not having,” she said.

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People illegally parked their cars along the freeway and neighborhoods were so gridlocked that parts of the city were essentially severed, affecting emergency services and the ability of residents to go to stores and work, Johnson said. People waited for hours in queues to see the canyon and many were unprepared for the hike, resulting in injuries.

California Highway Patrol Lt. Craig Palmer said the agency has already begun saturation patrols of the area. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco warned that there will be zero tolerance for parking violations and the result could be a citation, a vehicle being towed, or worse. "It is a misdemeanor infraction, and you're subject to arrest and booking into jail," Bianco said.

https://www.newser.com/story/331350/california-mayor-says-poppy-fields-are-off-limits.html