How to Avoid Legal Trouble While Tailgating

As summer comes to a close, a new season begins: football season. If you are from the South, you understand that fall is a sacred time of year. Whether you are a Georgia fan, Georgia Tech fan or possibly even a Georgia State fan, this is an exciting time of year. Football season and tailgating go hand-in-hand. Tailgating and alcohol consumption also go hand and hand. We want to make sure you have a good time while watching the game but also that you do it safely. Check out these tips to make sure you do not get in trouble with the law.

• Do not drink and drive! While this goes for all year round, a large percentage of people consume alcohol during football games, which makes driving home after a game dangerous. Even if you stopped drinking in the second quarter, you could still be impaired and receive a DUI.
  
• Arrange a ride home or nominate a designated driver. It is easy to find a ride home now with Uber and Lyft available all over Georgia. You may have to wait for one to arrive but it is better than waiting to go to Court for your DUI charge.|
  
• Check with the school's tailgate guidelines before showing up. Some schools have times when they allow tailgating or have certain designated areas for fans to gather before the game.
  
• Don't let your emotions get the best of you. We are passionate about our teams, and that is fine. However, when you let your emotions get the best of you, it can create a legal problem. Getting into a fight over a game could turn into an assault or battery charge.
  
• Do not serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. If people under 21 will be at your tailgate party, a good idea is to a have a separate cooler for alcoholic beverages.
  
• Do not drive with an open container. 40 states have laws prohibiting drivers from having an open container so even if you travel to an out of state game, be responsible.
  
• Avoid public intoxication because you could be arrested for disorderly conduct. The police are watching to make sure people do not get out of hand.
  
• Do not urinate in public. While it may be tempting to pee in the nearby bush, there are serious consequences if caught. In Georgia, urinating in public is considered an indecent act, and you could be convicted of a misdemeanor. Even worse, urinating in front of a minor could lead to mandatory registration as a sex offender.
  
• Please pick up your trash and keep our school campuses clean and beautiful.

Don't let one day of fun ruin your future. Act responsibly and never drink and drive. However, if you get into trouble on game day, our office is here to help! Contact us today for a free case evaluation. You do not have to face severe Georgia DUI Penalties.