Preliminary numbers show that arrests downtown during this year's South by Southwest festivals declined significantly over 2012.

Indeed, according to the Austin Police Department from March 8-16 there were 126 arrests downtown (for APD, from Lamar Boulevard to Chicon Street; from 12th St. to Lady Bird Lake). That's a 44% decline over 2012, when police made 224 arrests downtown during SXSW.

The total number of arrests for the 2013 festival period will likely rise, at least slightly, once arrests made early Sunday, March 17, are tallied.