Enhanced Security Measures and Bans for New Year's Eve 2025-2026 in Rhône and Seine-et-Marne

As New Year's Eve 2025-2026 approaches, the prefectures of Rhône and Seine-et-Marne have enacted stringent security protocols to ensure public safety during celebrations. In Seine-et-Marne, a prefectural decree bans the purchase, sale, and use of fireworks, pyrotechnics, and objects resembling firearms from December 30 at 5 PM until January 4 at 8 AM. The decree also restricts gatherings, including unauthorized musical events, and prohibits the possession and consumption of nitrous oxide. Law enforcement presence will be intensified in public spaces and train stations, with heightened controls on alcohol consumption and road safety.

In the Rhône department, authorities will deploy a helicopter equipped with a Wescam MX15 thermal and infrared camera to surveil high-risk cities such as Vaulx-en-Velin, Vénissieux, Villeurbanne, and Rillieux-la-Pape, where nearly half of last year's New Year's disturbances occurred. The aerial monitoring starts at 6 PM on December 31 and runs through 2 AM on January 1. Additionally, public alcohol consumption is restricted with bans on sales after 8 PM, and possession of flammable liquids in portable containers is prohibited. Fireworks are banned in public spaces from December 30 to January 3. These measures respond to the region's high accident toll, with 66 fatalities on Rhône roads this year, often tied to speeding and substance use.

Both departments emphasize community cooperation to maintain order, underscoring the importance of responsible behavior and compliance with these regulations during this festive period.