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Question about Campus Police

T

tjfortide

Scout Team
Jun 19, 2003
126
1
0
Hoover, Alabama, United States
I was at Saturday's game and I saw something happen that I have never seen before in Tuscaloosa. After the game, there were several cars around us still waiting for traffic to die down and watching TV or listening to the radio at their cars. I was not drinking but there were several USC fans sitting in the chairs at their cars ranging from ages 30-50. No one was loud, no one was doing anything that would cause a distraction. Campus Policae came by and started giving everyone tickets that had an open beer, even if is was covered by a koozie. We felt horrible for the USC fans and some of the Bama fans near them and tried talking to the officer. The Bama fans that tailgate with us were just as shocked because we tailgate at that spot because it is not rowdy and no one has ever bothered us before. The "open container law" ticket will cost them around $150 according the officer handing them out.

My question is....when did this start? We have always parked on the corner lot across from the Sigma Nu house. We weren't near the street, just back up against the retaining wall sitting in chairs. We missed the Western Carolina game but after talking with some other people in the Tide Pride next to us, we found out Campus Police was doing the same thing to Bama fans at that game too. Really not smart because that is an Ivory Club lot. Any of you have the same experience?
 
Don't know when it started, but I sure am glad it did. These people will sit around and drink beer and then get on the road at the same time me and my family are on the road, and the last thing I want to see is some drunk driving near me (or anyone else for that matter).

Three cheers for the campus police, "Hip, hip, hooray!!!!" Hip, hip, hooray!!!!" Hip, hip, hooray!!!!"

They should be fining them $500.00 dollars, IMHO.
 
I agree with Tide,son of Crim..

I for one do not want to be on the road with someone who has been sitting around drinking a few. There is too much traffic comming out of T-Town after a game to allow it.

Of course I don't drink so this is a one sided view. LOL :biggrin:
 
I think you missed the point

None of these folks were drunk, they had some folks that were driving (like myself in our group) that were not drinking and these people were sitting under their tents waiting for traffic to clear out. These weren't the type of people you see drinking during the game. The ages were between 30 and 50. There were plenty of college students walking the street, running their mouth who were obviously drunk and had Solo cups so I felt the USC fans should have got a warning since they weren't from around here and they weren't making a scene.

As far as the drunks on the road after the game, I drive back to Birmingham after every game and I see more trouble with people trying to watch TV and drive.
 
I have never seen that happen. I am kind of suprised that they are doing that. WHile I agree with other posters that I definitely do not want someone hanging out drinking and then getting behind the wheel..... I would also say that just because someone is drinking does not mean that they are driving. Granted the consumption of alcohol can lead to arguments/ fights. This will add some interesting sub-plots to the fan base reacting to the Universities policies.
 
I think that lot you are talking about is city property. I guess they like to enforgce the law aftet the game on city property where they don't before. I've stayed after for over an hour, but that was on campus way on the east side, so I don't think campus security/TPD care over there. Out of site, out of mind. Right there of the strip is a little out in the open.
 
I think it is wrong to automatically assume that people were not drinking responsibly. My friends were drinking after the game as we waited for the traffic to die down too. I wasn't worried about them being on the road because I was the designated sober driver.
 
there was some ordinance passed recently. I am not sure if it pertained to your certain situation or not. But, more police are supposed to be patrolling the strip and keeping crowds/alcohol off of the street corners and outside the bars.
 
After talking with the police and locals...it deals with a certain "group" that gets together late in the evening and is getting a lot of crap started and people are getting hurt and arrested.

TAG
 
I am a student at UA and since i have been here the UA/TPD have cracked down on open containers, except on game days, which has obviously changed this year. A friends of mine almost got arrested because she argued with a police officer that on game days you can have a beer in public, but the police officer quickly told her that it is a myth and made her pour her beer out and be on her way. My only advise is to learn from the students and keep alcohol in cups, not bottles or cans.
 
There was an increased police presence all around the stadium. More officers on the sidelines and more in the stands, and a lot of behavior was getting people in trouble. A guy I saw in one of the upper deck sections was removed from the stands and was "put in time-out" for the first half for cursing loudly. I think he also may have been drinking. They let him come back for the second half, but kept a close eye on him.
 
I have heard of incidents of the city police giving open container tickets off campus. The corner of which you speak is University property -as is much of the strip. I haven't seen the University police going out of their way to issue tickets before games. I think most of the open container tickets are issued by city police after games in private neighborhoods around campus.
 
I'd say "after the game" is the key word in the original post. My experience in college football locales (both in T-Town and at away sites) and around NFL stadiums is that cops don't really enforce the container laws much before games. They are usually too busy enforcing parking rules and directing pedestrian traffic anyway. During and after games, enforcement get tougher, because obviously somone drinking after a game is more likely to drink and drive. Ticketing trends tend to go up and down with city revenue needs and the volume of complaints when friends of powerful people get ticketed. There must be a happy medium between fan enjoyment and highway safety.
 
This stuff comes and goes. Never drink out of a container in public and do not act obnoxious. Tuscaloosa has very nasty police and a busy jail and court house. It has been this way since I can remember, tougher some years better others. One of my friends got arrested in S. Carolina's parking lot several years ago for having an open beer before the game. He was standing next to a USC fan who was also drinking. Fair? No! It is just the way it is.
 
drjohn432 said:
One of my friends got arrested in S. Carolina's parking lot several years ago for having an open beer before the game. He was standing next to a USC fan who was also drinking. Fair? No! It is just the way it is.
Click to expand...
Visiting fans always know the least about local rules and ordinances, but they often have the biggest "bullseye" and get targeted the most.
 
well yall can thank people like the morons that were throwing bottles across the road before the ole siss game. they better be glad i didnt find them. its crap like that that will stop drinking altogether. its the young punks that cant hold their alcohol that get crap goin that ruins is for everyone.
 
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