NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV (FOX5) -
What could be the busiest weekend of the year is about to begin in Las Vegas. From the Electric Daisy Carnival at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway to the welterweight title fight between Manny Pacquiao and Tim Bradley, it all adds up to what could be gridlock on our highways and on the Strip.
At the Motor Speedway alone, more than 300,000 tickets have been sold for the Electric Daisy Carnival. Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Jeremie Elliott's recommendation: "Use alternate routes and avoid the Speedway at all costs."
With the larger than average amount of visitors, there will be a larger and much more visual presence of police from all local agencies. "Our mission at the Electric Daisy Carnival is two things. We're going to make sure we have efficient flow of traffic in and out, and we are going to make sure it's done as safely as possible," said Elliott.
Meanwhile, the Taxicab Authority has approved an additional 160 cabs to be on the roads Friday night through Sunday night to accommodate more potential customers. At the same time, the Taxicab Authority is making sure that complaints on long hauling and overcharging will be left to a minimum.
"We've got investigators out at McCarran Airport today conducting a long haul checkpoint," said Charles Harvey, administrator for the Taxicab Authority. As of 12:30 Friday afternoon, 10 cabbies had been cited for long hauling.
The biggest challenge for visitors could be leaving Las Vegas. After Memorial Day weekend, the drive home to southern California took nearly nine hours. "What I would recommend is stay a few hours past what you would normally leave or stay an extra day," said Elliott.
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