City staff to recommend allowing vehicles back in Raleigh Christmas Parade
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Motorized vehicles could be returning to the Raleigh Christmas Parade this year.
City staff have been working for the past year on new parade safety requirements and recommendations that include allowing vehicles to return to the event.
According to a release from the city, one of the several new safety recommendations includes having parade organizers provide proof of a recent (within 30 days of the event ) vehicle safety check by a qualified mechanic.
The inspection must include operation of the vehicle's brakes, tires, lights, horn, and emissions. The vehicle must also have a current registration.
Vehicles were not allowed in 2023's parade after 11-year-old Hailey Brooks was hit and killed in the 2022 parade.
Brooks was performing with CC & Co. dancers in the parade when a truck towing a float malfunctioned.
WATCH | Raleigh City Council work on new parade safety requirements
The driver of that truck, 20-year-old Landen Glass, is facing numerous charges related to the deadly accident.
The city will now gather feedback from the community through an online form and then present final recommendations to the city council on June 18.
Shop Local Raleigh executive director Jennifer Martin was in the room for the meeting at Chavis Park on Thursday, and said she needs more time to fully digest the recommendations and what they mean.
"It's not just about parades, it's about all events in general in the city," Martin said. "It did say that it is a recommendation it is going to go before city council. We don't know the timeline on that or how that will all work but it does seem like the city is trying to get back to having vehicles in parades."
Martin said she believes things can always be better.
"It's not just here locally that's all over and any time we are doing events, the more planners can get together and have these important discussions that's a way we pay it forward," she said.
