Briana Koeneman
The History Behind New Year's Eve's Biggest Party
The first party held in Times Square more than a century ago wasn't really about celebrating the new year.
LEARN MOREPosted: 9:52 a.m. EST Dec 30, 2016
There haven't been any threats against New York ahead of the city's massive New Year's Eve celebration, but police are taking extra precautions to make sure everyone is safe on the big night.
"We're going to have one of the most well-policed, best-protected events at one of the safest venues in the entire world, ," New York Police Commissioner James O'Neill said.
Along with 7,000 New York Police Department officers, heavily armed Critical Response Command officers, helicopters and bomb-sniffing dogs, the city's security plan also includes garbage trucks. Lots of them.
Authorities say 65 Department of Sanitation trucks loaded with tons of sand and 100 NYPD vehicles will act as a fortress around Times Square. Officials hope this will prevent any unauthorized vehicles from entering the area.
The New Year's Eve festivities come just a few weeks after a truck plowed through a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring dozens more.
And, months before that, 86 people died when a truck driver drove through a crowd in Nice, France.
Starting Saturday morning, New Year's Eve attendees will be funneled into dozens of viewing pens across Times Square after being screened. Patrons will not be allowed to bring large containers, umbrellas, coolers or backpacks into the area.
Sand trucks and blocker cars will also protect the fireworks in Central Park and on Coney Island.
