Night of revelry pretty quiet, officials say

It was a quiet New Year’s Eve in the Newport-Mesa area according to all reports.

Three people were arrested for driving under the influence in Costa Mesa, which Lt. Bob Ciszek said is pretty standard on any given night, holiday or not. In Newport Beach — which is known for its bar scene — just one person was arrested for driving intoxicated, according to Sgt. John Hougan.

“I’m surprised that it was that low, so either people are using designated drivers or staying home,” Hougan said.

Neither city conducted sobriety checkpoints. The one drunk driver in Newport was arrested when the car got into an accident.

There weren’t any reported traffic collisions despite heavy fog in Costa Mesa, officials said.

Neither fire department had to respond to any major incidents, which was a pleasant surprise for Newport Beach Battalion Chief Ron Gamble. New Year’s Eve is a holiday that has the potential to bring serious alcohol related incidents, traffic accidents and fights at local bars, according to Gamble, and sometimes fires caused by candles, Christmas trees and other seasonal fixtures.

“It was actually pretty quiet this year for New Year’s in Newport. We’ve had a few busy ones in the past few years, but not this year,” Gamble said.

It was a similar situation on the harbor, where Harbor Patrol said there were no boat parties gone awry that required rescues or any other significant incidents.

— Alan Blank