With the New Orleans second-line season just weeks away, an announcement by the city police department that insurance requirements and other rules will be more strictly enforced has alarmed members of the traditional parading organizations.

Some members of the second-line community see the rules as a confusing and costly addition to the responsibilities of the producers of the parades, which are a touchstone of Crescent City culture. They also say the change was announced at the last minute with no input from the community.

The NOPD contends that the regulations are already on the books, and all that’s changed is that enforcement will be stiffened this year. 

The NOPD says requirements must be met before the processions are allowed to hit the street in the upcoming season, which begins on Aug. 24 with the Valley of Silent Men parade. 

On Tuesday afternoon, a miniature second-line parade rambled along the brick sidewalk around Gallier Hall, intended to call attention to what some members of the second-line community consider a crisis.

Tamara Jackson, who founded the VIP Ladies and Kids parade in 2003, said the police are seeking to increase insurance requirements on the clubs and, particularly, on the flatbed trollies that serve as floats in some second-lines, carrying costumed riders. Harnesses will be required, and portable toilets will be banned on the vehicles, which are typically towed behind pickup trucks, Jackson said.

“I have floats and trollies in my parade,” Jackson said, but she’s unclear what exactly needs to change before her next procession, which is scheduled for March. “We need clarification,” she said, “we just don’t know.” Plus, she said, any such requirements could cost the organizations more money.

Increased regulation will especially impact the early-season parades, which may not have time to make changes, Jackson said. She said that NOPD’s efforts to explain the situation was tardy, and the delay in communication was “disrespectful.”

Asked for comment on the matter, a New Orleans Police Department spokesperson replied via email that “there are no new requirements being put in place. Existing requirements are being more strictly enforced.”

“The NOPD’s primary responsibility is public safety,” the spokesperson continued, “whether during Second Lines or any event in New Orleans.”

The department’s recent focus on “utility trailers,” which are also known as trollies, “stems from community concerns and our obligation to ensure that all transportation for hire comply with existing safety regulations.”

Jackson had called for the second-line demonstration at Gallier Hall on Tuesday. Roughly 50 members of second-line clubs, including the Treme Sidewalk Steppers, Original Pigeon Town Steppers, and Original Prince of Wales attended, dancing to fiery music by the New Groove Brass Band.

As if to emphasize the intergenerational character of second-line parades, a child, barely beyond his toddlerhood, tapped a steady rhythm on a snare drum.

Along the curb of St. Charles Avenue stood three parade trollies. Trolly owner Anthony Dowell said that the parade vehicles operate safely with harnesses and adequate insurance. He said he doesn’t see why portable toilets would be banned, considering that they are permitted on Mardi Gras floats.

“For some apparent reason, they’ve decided to change the culture, the way we’ve been operating for umpteen years,” Dowell said. “They decided to change a lot of things, and we didn’t know nothing about it. Everything was done behind closed doors.”

“Hopefully,” Dowell said, “we can come to a common ground.”

As the band played Tuesday, council members Freddie King III and Oliver Thomas visited with the crowd. Afterward, Jackson called on the participants in the demonstration to attend Thursday’s City Council meeting, where the controversy will be further discussed.