Authorities Block Roads to ‘Rave’

Authorities blocked off the main roads into Castaic Saturday and turned away carloads of people numbering in the hundreds who had planned to attend what officials said was a giant, outdoor and illegal “rave” party.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said the party was scheduled to take place in a privately owned field at Victoria Road and The Old Road at 8 p.m.

A party organizer told deputies that as many as 65,000 flyers advertising the event had been distributed and that some reached as far north as central California, Deputy Robert Norlemann said. He said the party was organized without the property owner’s permission.

Raves are large gatherings where revelers dance to “techno-pop” music and sometimes use nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, and Ecstasy, a hallucinogenic.

Deputies were sent to the field at 3 p.m. to turn away party-goers. Three hours later Caltrans officials closed the main roadways into Castaic, including the Parker Road exit of the northbound Golden State Freeway and The Old Road, which was shut off just north of Lake Hughes Road.

Castaic residents were permitted to use The Old Road after displaying their driver’s licenses, but those without proof of residence were turned away. Three people were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and 50 kegs of beer were confiscated, Norlemann said.