Cops promise to crash OSU tailgate parties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
By CHARLEY GILLESPIE
Associated Press Writer
COLUMBUS
Ohio State fans accustomed to drinking a few beers before kickoff may find their tailgating parties being crashed this fall by police who have grown tired of rioting after games, including last season's home finale against Michigan.
A task force, sponsored by the university and Columbus police, that studied the riots following Ohio State's 14-9 victory over Michigan recommended consistently enforcing underage drinking and open-container laws.
Forty-nine people were arrested as Buckeyes fans celebrating the victory on Nov. 23 lighted more than 100 fires near campus, damaged about 20 cars, broke windows of homes and stores, and pelted firefighters with rocks and debris.
Ohio State police Chief Ron Michalec said illegal pregame drinking has gotten out of hand and the crackdown is the beginning of "a change of culture" for Buckeyes fans.
"It is a radical departure in some ways. It's going to be tough for people to understand what we are trying to do," Michalec said.
Michalec said the crackdown -- which begins Saturday night when Ohio State opens its season against Washington -- means no more tailgating parties with open bars or officers looking the other way.
"In the 13 years I've been here, this has never been attempted," he said. "I know that there has been random sweeps periodically, but nothing that was organized or requested."
Michalec said officers will target areas around Ohio Stadium and St. John Arena and cite offenders for violations including open container, underage possession, disorderly conduct and indecent exposure.
"What we are going to try to do is work on target zones, where we've had most of the problems like the disorderly behavior," Michalec said. "I am not going to be able to tell you we're going to eradicate something; we're going to try to control it."
Michalec said his officers will give non-flagrant violators warnings for the first three games.
"After Game 3, we figure that everybody should pretty much have the routine down," he said.
Michalec said flagrant violators will get their season parking passes revoked.
"Sometimes that has a greater effect than even an appearance down at the Franklin County Municipal Court," he said.
Don't expect to get a warning from the Columbus police.
"The tailgate culture has become a safety issue," spokeswoman Sherry Mercurio said. "After the Michigan game there were intoxicated people urinating in public, assaulting Michigan fans and each other."
Mercurio said officers are expecting to write so many citations that a police substation will be set up near the stadium to process tickets.
Mercurio said it will be easier to curb illegal pregame drinking with campus police and Columbus police writing tickets.
"Now that Ohio State has agreed to partner with us it is much easier to enforce," Mercurio said. "It was difficult for us to dedicate manpower when offenders could walk 10 feet over (to campus) and not get cited."
Extra officers also will be on hand to help tailgaters through what is expected to be a traffic nightmare as at least 100,000 people are expected to fill Ohio Stadium.
The game will be the first since the Lane Avenue bridge over the Olentangy River was closed last fall. Also, campus-area construction has eliminated thousands of key parking spots.
The university is recommending fans arrive 90 minutes before kickoff and much earlier if they have a recreational vehicle.
