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Politics & Government

Foxborough Police Chief Seeks Signs for Drinking Rules

O'Leary wants to inform event goers that there is no drinking outside of tailgating hours. He asks for businesses help.

Just as the New England Patriots are going back to work, there may be some changes coming to tailgating Route 1 parking lots during their games.

Foxborough Police Chief Edward O’Leary presented an amendment to parking regulations for consideration at Tuesday night’s selectmen’s meeting aimed at tailgaters and binge drinkers. 

The law would require all Route 1 businesses with parking lots to display a sign on their property reading “Drinking of alcoholic beverages outside of tailgate hours is an arrestable offense,” and would put more responsibility on lot owners to regulate and police their property.

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 “Licenses may be suspended if lot owners choose to look the other way,” said O’Leary, but he insisted that he did not think this would be a problem, “Business owners are very concerned with these activities too.”

Each event would carry different times for tailgating and the law would only be directed at businesses with lots that hold more than 10 cars. O’Leary stated that the law could have “long-term benefits for attendees and our community.”

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“We’re trying to make Gillette Stadium a safer place for families,” said the police chief

He said he spoke with businesses that would be affected and with the state while writing the amendment.

The purpose of the new law would be to discourage both binge drinking and drinking outside of designated tailgate areas. Foxborough bylaws already state that drinking in public and public intoxication are arresting offenses.

“We don’t want to punish people who tailgate responsibly, it’s a tradition that goes back to the original Foxborough Stadium,” said O’Leary, “but some use games just as an excuse to get drunk and use the lots as a venue.” 

Though the official vote will not come until next month, the three selectmen, Lynda Walsh, Mark Sullivan and Chairman Lawrence Harrington expressed their support.

“I think it’s a great idea, anything that will help,” said Walsh.

Sullivan said, “hopefully 20-years from now this type of activity won’t exist anymore.”

The selectmen will formally vote on the measure at the first Selectmen’s meeting on Aug. 8.

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