COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina State Fair is implementing new safety and security rules this year including updates to the clear bag policy and youth admission rules.
Hundreds packed into the fairgrounds on Wednesday night for the first day of the 12-day tradition, and according to fair director of safety, Matt Laschuma, keeping the lines, food vendors, and all the guests isn't an easy task, he says, "It takes a ton of people, a lot of energy, effort, money, everything."
He explains on a typical weekday, the fair will see between 50 and 70 officers on site patrolling and keeping people safe.
"It's a real joint effort between the South Carolina State Fair, the Richland [County] Sheriff's Department, South Carolina Highway Patrol, and the University of South Carolina police department."
However, keeping the event safe is a job for both law enforcement and visitors.
Laschuma explains that's why the fair is always evolving, its rule with one of the biggest keys to keeping people safe, being the addition of a youth admissions policy.
"A lot of times what happens when you have unattended minors on the fairgrounds property, we noticed incidents with runs, fighting," Laschuma adds, "So if you're 17 and under and you come to the South Carolina State Fair after 5 pm, you have to be with a parent."
He says that even though you may be coming with a sibling or someone older than 17, you still wouldn't be allowed in without a parent, "If you look around to be that age, we may ask you for your valid identification card, if you don't have it we will refuse you access to the fairgrounds."
These are measures that parents like India Glover are noticing.
She says it feels safe having her daughter Alaina and the rest of their family visit at night.
"Every time I turn around I feel like I see Richland County, so that's good. When they come in you know they have the metal detectors so I definitely feel safe."
He says the clear bag policy is also seeing some changes, explaining, "The new thing is we will add a tag to that bag, also a wrist band to the individual carrying the bag."
"We have specifically written out the exceptions that we will allow, number one is diaper bags.," Laschuma adds, "The other exception we allow to the clear bag policy is medical necessities."
For information on the fair's photography rules, visit this link.