Graduation and birthday party car parades are now allowed by Los Angeles County for residents to celebrate with social distancing. 

On Friday, the county “Safer at Home” order was being amended so that “Car parades are now allowed so that graduations, birthdays and other special days and achievements can be safely celebrated,” according to the William S. Hart District. 

Car parades can not include participants on a bicycle, a motorcycle, a convertible with the top open, or a vehicle with no doors such as a golf cart. If any of the windows on a vehicle is open, the occupants of the vehicle must wear a face covering, according to the county. 

“Today’s news is a welcome reversal,” said Linda Storli, president of the Hart Board. “We have been working behind the scenes to prepare for this remote possibility.  Now that we have a green light, expect news in the very near future on how we will plan to celebrate our seniors with special graduation car parades.”

Supervisor Kathryn Barger discussed the move after she was approached by many graduates and their families to celebrate commencement. 

“After enduring this year these students deserve an opportunity to celebrate everything that they have accomplished,” Barger said. “I am pleased to report that Los Angeles County has now issued guidance to enable vehicle parades and the chance for seniors across the region to be recognized for their hard work school districts are able to host their own Innovative commemorative ceremonies if they present a plan that allows for safe distancing.” 

The plan should ensure the safety of graduates, families and school administrators, according to the supervisor. 

“On behalf of our sheriff and our police Chiefs throughout the county we would like to remind everyone participating in a car parade please be respectful of existing traffic safety laws, physical distance requirements and face covering guidelines,” Barger said. “Let’s let us also continue our common courtesy for those around us to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities and I want to say congratulations to the class of 2020 as you walk into this next chapter we are cheering for you every single step of the way.”

Any organization coordinating a large-scale parade must have a designated organizational host who is responsible for ensuring compliance with the rules for the parade and adherence to the State’s Stay At Home Order that precludes gatherings. Only those personnel of the organization necessary to facilitate the parade and to ensure compliance can be present at the location designated by the host, according to the County. 

The host must:

• At its own cost, arrange for and provide security sufficient to ensure compliance with the State’s Order and address any traffic and safety issues.
• Develop a parade plan that deals with State’s Order, traffic and safety issues, parade participants, and social distancing requirements.
• Ensure participants and personnel adhere to the face covering and physical distancing requirements.
• The host may provide a significant document to one vehicle parade participant at a time, such as a diploma or other paper, while adhering to face covering and social distancing requirements.

The parade must:

• Take place in an outside location large enough to accommodate the social distancing requirements.
• Proceed by the host’s invitation only, with the parade limit of vehicles tied to the capacity size of the location.
• Not allow sales or exchanges of any items or food.

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