SA: More than 100,000 South Australians celebrate new year
01 Jan 2009 9:09 AM
ADELAIDE, Jan 1 AAP - More than 100,000 South Australians rang in the New Year at celebrations in Adelaide with police declaring the crowds well behaved.
Police said only 132 people were arrested and a further 83 reported, mostly for behaviour-related offences or minor assaults.
A 22-year-old man was arrested after reports he was carrying a gun outside an inner-city nightspot.
"Police subsequently located an imitation handgun and the man is expected to be charged with carrying an offensive weapon," a police spokesman said.
New Year's Eve celebrations in Elder Park, in the city, and at seaside Glenelg drew the biggest crowds, although cool conditions kept numbers down on last year.
Dry zones were also declared at some events and organisers said making the celebrations alcohol-free helped attract more families.
Police said they conducted 6,500 random breath tests over nine hours, with 35 people reported for drink driving and 11 for using drugs.
