The V.I. Police Department will be out in force Wednesday night to combat the random gunfire that punctuates New Years in the territory, and will make arrests when it can, Assistant Commissioner Thomas Hannah said.

It’s a bizarre ritual in the islands, a fusillade of gunfire in the night sky to celebrate New Years, which leaves residents cowering under cover and feeling they’re in a battle zone.

"It is a dangerous situation," Hannah said. "We’ve had situations in the past where those projectiles come down and have damaged cars and property."

And, of course, pose danger to any people they might come down on.

The bottom line is simple, the assistant commissioner said.

"If we catch you discharging a firearm, legal or illegal, we will arrest you."

The hard part for police, Hannah said, is there’s no single area they can concentrate on.

"Unfortunately it’s all over the territory," he said.

Police will also be keeping their eyes on traffic, he added, to make sure that if someone drinks too much his or her celebration won’t turn into someone else’s tragedy.

"If you’re out celebrating and know you might be drinking, don’t get behind the wheel," he said. "Have a designated driver, call someone to pick you up, call a taxi service."