Live reptiles are banned within 200 yards of Mardi Gras parades

The Short Answer

TRUE! No person shall bring or possess live snakes or reptiles within 200 yards of a Mardi Gras parade route, from 2 hours before until 1 hour after the parade.

The Full Story

Mardi Gras attracts millions of people, alcohol flows freely, and crowds are dense. Adding live snakes to that mix is a recipe for disaster—escaped reptiles, bites, panic in crowds.

The law specifically targets the parade areas during parade times. It covers all reptiles, not just snakes.

Common Misconceptions

This is a New Orleans city ordinance, not a Louisiana state law. The reason the city council originally banned reptiles at parades has been lost to history, but it likely relates to public safety concerns about snakes in large, intoxicated crowds. The law does not define what counts as a "reptile" and does not specify a penalty for violation.

Actual Legal Text

New Orleans Code of Ordinances, Chapter 34 (Carnival, Mardi Gras): "No reptiles shall be allowed within 200 yards of a Mardi Gras parade route not less than two hours before the published scheduled start of a parade, nor within 200 yards of the actual end of a parade for not less than one hour after the actual end of the parade measured from each continuing area of parade termination." The same section also prohibits non-parade, non-police horses within the same distance.