City enforcement busy during SXSW

City of Austin officials remain busy trying to keep things running smoothly during this year’s South by Southwest festival. As of Wednesday evening, the Public Assembly Code Enforcement Team has shut down seven venues or facilities for unsanctioned events and issued 32 citations for a variety of other violations. The team, which has been responding to calls related to downtown activities since the start of SXSW and spring break, has also issued nine written warnings and 26 verbal warnings for various violations. On Wednesday, meanwhile, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services responded to 48 incidents, 26 of which resulted in patient transports. These numbers reflect calls for assistance within the downtown footprint during SXSW and spring break events. The city’s Transportation Department has also been busy. It has issued 43 citations since March 12, not including parking citations or warnings from parking enforcement officers. Those citations were given to pedicabs, chauffeurs and taxis.