Rally enforcement up, new age rule

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Hundreds of thousands of people are heading into Austin for the Republic of Texas Rally this weekend, and the Austin Police Department is beefing up patrols to keep area roadways safe.

APD will have 20 additional police officers working traffic through Sunday evening.

"Sadly, this year 27 percent of our crash fatalities involve motorcycles," said APD Chief Art Acevedo. "In light of this increase in fatalities, we are starting an enforcement campaign leading up to the rally."

However, for the first time in the ROT Rally's 15-year history there are some new rules. Only people 18 years old and up are allowed into festivities at the Travis County Expo Center.

The decision comes after someone took hundreds of photos of men and women completely naked, and rally organizers said the new age restriction has already caused a 15 percent decrease in participants and revenue.

Last year Travis County Sheriff's Office officials said they were concerned after pictures showed some of his deputies who were working security at the Expo Center sitting in golf carts with women behind them dancing nude on poles.

Still, an internal investigation cleared the deputies of any wrongdoing.

To try to draw families, the ROT Rally has invited Robbie Knievel to jump three, 52-foot semitrailers in front of the Texas State Capitol Friday.