Traffic, use of illegal handicap placards addressed ahead of Desert Trip

Weekend two of the Desert Trip music festival kicks off tonight with Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones taking the stage again. Last week, thousands of people complained of major traffic problems that forced them to miss the beginning of the concert. Security guards and police officers were directing traffic Friday afternoon and evening. Concertgoers this weekend are arriving early to make sure they catch the start of Bob Dylan’s set. “We got a house rented over here and we came early to hang out at the house for a while, and there was not traffic coming here from LAX. But from what I hear, last weekend, it’s going to be pretty bad before it’s over with,” said Mike Dyer, a concertgoer from Dallas. KESQ & CBS Local 2 reporter Joe Galli The Indio Police Department said changes have been made to the way people will be parking. Instead of trying to fill one lot at a time, drivers will be directed to the closest lot if traffic builds up. That method should free up the street. “We thought we had some ideas, and you really don’t know where the marbles are going to go until you spill the marbles on the table. So we made some adjustments and Saturday went perfect and Sunday went perfect. We are keeping with the same plan,” said Sgt. Dan Marshall, the press information officer with the Indio Police Department. Police officers will also be cracking down on people who illegally use handicap placards that don’t belong to them in order to get a better parking spot. “If you are out there, and you are coming to the festival, and you have grandma’s placard or dad’s placard, don’t use it. Just go park in the GA lot. It is close enough. We have the walking paths all set up. You will get close enough to the venue,” Marshall said. Marshall also said people who took cabs or ride-sharing services such as Uber didn’t have any problems last weekend and should be fine this weekend. JOE GALLI CAN BE FOUND ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!