St. Patrick's Day parties in the university district

Police say they've handed out a number of open alcohol charges in Waterloo's university district, as students celebrate St. Patrick's Day. A couple of keg parties have also been shut down.

570 News spoke to a pair of students who were being handed a ticket. One said, "We were just walking down the street with our beers and the cops pulled up in front of us...and he made us pour out the beer."

Another student said he and his friends planned to keep the peace, saying, "we're not doing anything wrong, we don't need to be some of those people who are causing trouble and we're just having a good time here in Waterloo...The police are doing a great job, they're monitoring everything, making sure it's safe around here."

A student who lives on Marshall Street says the area is dirtier than normal today. Paula says, "If you walk by about Marshall and King Street you can actually just smell the beer emanating from the houses."

Regional police say they have special enforcement through the university district to ensure public safety. Officers are patrolling in cruisers, on bicycles and on foot. There is also a heavy police presence on the roads. RIDE programs will continue until 3 am.