What You Need to Know Before Tailgating This Year.
This coming football season, ASU and law enforcement are trying to lower the number of underage students consuming alcohol while limiting the risks involved in binge drinking at tailgating events. ASU is enforcing a ban on kegs and other “apparatuses that encourage reckless consumption of alcoholic beverages.” As a result, you will see more law enforcement officers walking the parking lots near the stadium looking for red solo cups, beer kegs, and beer bongs, which are commonly used for drinking games. While tailgating is a long standing tradition for sports fans to bond and create a sense of community over their shared love of football, when mixing alcohol with tailgating, you must be familiar with the law. In order to help prevent any citations or arrests, it is important to designate a responsible and sober person who is willing and able to make sure you don’t do anything that could subject you to harm, injury, arrest or bad choices–as well as get you home safely.
Leave the red solo cups at home
When Castillo Law consulted the Sun Devil Stadium staff about the new rules, they emphasized “no red solo cups,” as this is what will help officers to determine violations of the rules including: no hard liquor, no glass containers, no underage drinking, no seriously disruptive behavior and no contribution to the delinquency of a minor. Because of these rules, you will likely see more citations written for underage consumption, disorderly conduct, open containers, public urination, and DUI.
Be respectful of each other and the city
If you engage in fighting, violent or seriously disruptive behavior, make unreasonable noise, and/or use fighting words, you could be charged with disorderly conduct. If you are simply in a car while on a public highway or thoroughfare and have an open container used for alcohol, you will be violating the Open Container Law. Make sure you and your friends use the designated bathrooms, or else you could be violating the laws against public urination. Being aware and designating a responsible sober person will limit the number of arrests and uncomfortable contact with police.
Even when you plan ahead, Castillo Law understands that mistakes happen. Therefore, there are some precautions when being investigated for these crimes that you should know. If you are contacted for any criminal or civil offense such as the ones stated above, you must provide your name and/or identification if an officer requests that information. Otherwise, it is imperative that you remain silent and always ask to speak to an attorney before you make any admissions against your interest. If you find yourself facing any of these charges find an experienced attorney and consult with them immediately. Many attorneys, such as Castillo Law, offer around the clock advice seven days a week. For more information, view our youtube library.
Go Sundevils!