NEWPORT BEACH – There were still drunks. There were still brawls. And there were still drunken brawlers hauled away in handcuffs. But police here will tell the City Council tonight that efforts to keep Independence Day fireworks in the sky succeeded.

Beefing up police presence, the threat of triple fines and better communication with residents all contributed to a Fourth of July with fewer problems, Newport Beach police Lt. John Klein said. But it's not enough.

"We're reluctant to say the problem is solved because we had one year where the numbers were down," Klein said.

In his report on July 4 activity, police Chief Bob McDonell says the crackdown should continue "for at least the foreseeable future to ensure the progress made is not lost."

To combat out-of-control parties and near-riot situations, the city spent more than $142,000 to have 275 police officers on the streets in west Newport, 60 more than last year. Arrests dropped from 162 in 2002 to 103 this year.

The council also declared most of west Newport a "Safety Enhancement Zone" and tripled fines for citations such as being drunk in public, minors possessing alcohol and urinating in public. Many of the under-30 crowd were initially outraged by the increased fines and police.

Bryan Clarkson, who founded Free Newport to fight the city's enforcement plan, said the process ultimately helped residents and police better understand each other. But much of the controversy could have been avoided if the City Council had first reached out to the younger crowd, he said.

It was the Police Department working with residents that brought positive changes for the day, Clarkson said.

"If anyone deserves credit, it should be the Newport Beach police," he said. "The lesson learned here is that some good old-fashioned communication and enforcement from police bring about control and safety. You don't need to roll tanks down the street to maintain order. Sometimes you just need to be professional."