EUGENE POLICE NEWS RELEASE
May 1, 2015
For further information, contact:
Melinda McLaughlin, APR, Public Information Director, at 541.682.5124
John Hankemeier, Public Information Coordinator, 541.682.5197
Spring Football – More fun with tips for avoiding traffic, thefts and expensive alcohol violations
On Saturday, May 2, the UO Spring Football game will bring fans and heavy traffic to the area, as well as some thieves waiting to steal the goodies in your car.
Here are a few tips to help you navigate easier in traffic, to protect you from thefts, and help you party without the sting of a violation.
TRAFFIC TIPS
In order to ease congestion in the Ferry Street/Coburg Road area on game day, we recommend that non-game motorists use alternate routes to access that area during their commutes. Alternate routes such as the Washington/Jefferson Street Bridge, Delta Highway, Cal Young Road, Harlow Road, Goodpasture Island Road, and Green Acres/Cresent Avenue are several ways motorists can access the Coburg Road area without competing with game traffic.
Other transportation options include walking and biking to Autzen Stadium along the numerous pedestrian paths and bike lanes throughout Eugene, or taking the bus.
After the game, Traffic Enforcement Officers encourage motorists to take the Club Road exit to downtown as an alternate option to access northbound Delta to Beltline, instead of having to travel north on Coburg from MLK. If more motorists use this route, traffic in other areas around the stadium will be less impacted by game traffic.
The Eugene Police Traffic Enforcement Unit would like your game day commute to go as smooth as possible. By following these suggestions you can reduce your commute time, ease congestion around Autzen Stadium, and reduce the risk of traffic crashes.
1.) Ride the Bus – Lane Transit District offers several convenient park and ride locations throughout Eugene/Springfield at an affordable price. LTD buses are given priority into and out of the area of Autzen Stadium on game days which greatly minimizes travel time for fans.
2.) Have a Plan – Fans coming to the game should pre-plan their travel routes and where they will park once they arrive. Normal traffic patterns around Autzen Stadium are dramatically changed on game days and will limit your ability to drive freely through the area.
3.) Obey the Law – It’s vital that fans observe basic traffic laws when commuting to and from the game. The traffic cone patterns around the area of Autzen Stadium on games days are considered traffic control devices and cannot be arbitrarily disregarded. Failure to obey these cones patterns or the officers who are directing traffic, may lead to a $237.00 citation.
4.) Be Patient – On game days, approximately 60,000 people come to the area near Autzen Stadium. Trying to get that many people into and out of the area is a huge undertaking and takes time. By allowing plenty of travel time and expecting some delays you will improve your overall game day experience.
5.) Don’t Drink and Drive!!! – Local law enforcement agencies want football fans to enjoy themselves but to do so responsibly. By not drinking excessively and designating sober drivers, fans can help prevent tragedies from occurring.
NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED AT AUTZEN STADIUM FOR SPRING GAME
It important to note that public consumption of alcohol is not allowed at Autzen Stadium for the spring game. The special temporary exemptions to local liquor laws pertain to home football games in the fall, not in the spring. Anyone who consumes alcohol in public at the stadium site on Saturday may be cited under city code. 4.190
THEFT FROM VEHICLE TIPS:
Theft from a vehicle is one of the most common crimes in our area. In almost all cases, the victims had left property visible in the vehicle. There is one clear message, if you want to keep someone from breaking into your vehicle, don't leave anything visible inside the vehicle! If you will follow this one simple rule, you will likely not become a victim of this crime.
• Be careful when leaving electronics in your vehicle, GPS, Ipod’s, etc. Even just a cord visible, indicates the likelihood such a device is inside. Your safest option is to leave anything you consider valuable at home.
• Don’t park and then put something in your vehicle’s trunk and then walk away from the vehicle. If someone saw you put it in, they can usually access your trunk by breaking into your vehicle and accessing the trunk release. Instead, put the item in the trunk before arriving at your location. This is especially important at hiking/running locations, sporting events and shopping malls
• Secure vehicles by rolling up the windows and locking doors (even on a hot day – it is better to take a few minutes to air out a hot car than to discover a theft)
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