times square New Year is considered the ultimate way to celebrate New Year's Eve. Millions of people attend and this year, despite it being one of the coldest on record, and with terror threats, many people are expected to attend the giant gathering to see in 2018.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) is determined to make this Times Square New Year event safe for everyone. Security will be tight. They are as prepared as it is possible to be for such a public gathering.
By Thanksgiving, they already had a visible police presence and undercover cops around.
You can bet your last 2017 dollar that the NSA had been scouring the underworld for information of potential attackers and even lone-wolf aspirant bombers. For New Year, there will be an even bigger police presence.
Times Square what to expect regarding security
James Waters, the Chief of the Counter-Terrorism Bureau has explained what you can expect when you go to Times Square.
According to their media statements, when you arrive, you will "enter on 6th or 8th Avenue." There, you can expect to be searched with a magnetometer or a hand wand.
Before you even get that far, you will have had an explosive detection canine sniffing around you. Once you are through the entrance, you will get to another area where the pens are set up.
Once you are at the pens, you will be screened a second time.
Things you cannot take to the square at New Year 2018
There are some items that you cannot take with you into Times Square. (As it is also predicted to be one of the coldest New Year's Eve on recent record, pack wisely). They will not allow large backpacks into the square.
- Any kind of large bag won't be allowed in.
- Umbrellas will not be allowed either.
- No alcohol is allowed, so don't try it on.
The police have made it very clear that everyone needs to take responsibility for the security of themselves and others on New Year's Eve. There will be police all over the place, so if you see anything that seems odd, different or out of place, they want you to share it with them as soon as possible.
The statement said that Times Square in New York City will be the safest place in the world. It takes a lot of confidence to say that, so the police are obviously very well prepared.
You can watch a video about Times Square security procedures here.
CNBC reported that the 125 parking garages in the vicinity of the Square will be emptied to prevent the possibility of car bombs. Also, there will be snipers out, but you probably won't see them. The dogs you see will be looking for "vapor wake," which are trace amounts of "explosive particles that trail behind someone carrying a bomb."
To prevent a repeat of the Mandalay Bay shooting in Las Vegas, detectives will be in the highrise hotels around the square. Police Commissioner James O'Neill said officers already are working with hotel security. New York City, Times Square, New Year 2018 is hopefully going to usher in a new era of peace.
