Prague introducing New Year’s Eve restrictions in city centre

Special measures, including bans on traffic and parking, will apply on New Year’s Eve in the busiest parts of Prague’s historic centre, such as Wenceslas Square, Old Town Square and the embankment near Charles Bridge. The metro will run for up to two hours after midnight.

Police and municipal wardens will fine unauthorized use of fireworks. Hundreds of officers from the ranks of municipal and traffic police will oversee safety and compliance with fireworks regulations, police spokesman Jan Rybanský said.

Under an amendment to the law, people must now keep a distance of at least 250 metres when setting off fireworks near certain sites, including hospitals, care homes, shelters, rescue stations, zoos and beehives. Prague’s municipal ordinance goes further, banning fireworks entirely in the historic centre. The city has launched an information campaign in Czech and English posted in public spaces including metro stations.