Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Post by roolacksreality on Jun 18, 2007 21:53:24 GMT -5
Undercover cops, strict searches,.............
Why would Superfly/ AC Ent. want to become the next Coparusa. I didn't have any problems with this stuff, but I've talked to a good number of people that did.
Post by roolacksreality on Jun 18, 2007 22:04:49 GMT -5
I never had issues with any of it, too. So many people said stuff about getting busted by undercover cops and security was definately tighter (But, again, I know how to avoid this stuff), so I just wanted to know any logical explainations for this. Last night, though, I saw four cop cars that were parked near the woods and it looked like one of the troopers was giving some chick a citation or something.
Like I said before, I was not hurt by this stuff in any way, I simply want to know more about this stuff and if there/ what is the reason.
Post by strumntheguitar on Jun 18, 2007 22:10:37 GMT -5
I don't understand why people feel the need to complain about people getting in trouble for breaking the law. Bonnaroo is still America, believe it or not. If you're selling/buying/partaking in illegal drugs at Bonnaroo, you are not exempt from being arrested just because you're covered in dirt at a music festival. Bonnaroo had the reputation of being 4 days where you can get away with anything no matter what. I talked to friends that considered paying the money for a ticket just so they could be exposed to more illegal crap and basically just party for 4 days straight. This isn't what Bonnaroo wants to become. By cracking down on some obvious breaking of the law, they are sending a message that says "come to Roo for the music, not the party." Personally, I had no problem with security and I know a large majority of the festival also didn't have a problem with it. Only the ones running around like idiots did, and they probably had it coming...
Sorry for my crankiness, i just expected to get on inforoo after getting back home to see everyone gloating about how amazing this festival was, and all I see are people whining about dust and security. Give me an effin break here people...
Post by rowdyburns on Jun 18, 2007 22:13:02 GMT -5
We camped next to a fella who brought a dealer back to his camp to buy boomers and a Coffee County undercover cop was tailing the dealer and they both got busted. Our neighbor got a $400 citation and his stash confiscated, the dealer was arrested. I did notice quite alot of authorities around--but I'm not complaining because I made it through the festival with quite alot of assets.
I didn't have any issues with undercover cops, but the searching to get into centeroo got a little ridiculous at times. I was late for tool because the lady searching our line at the entrance near the ferris wheel was the most unecessarily thorough bitch ever. I saw her open a 50 year old man's glasses case for christ's sake. eventually most of the line just poured into the line right beside us, which went much faster.
It is entirely possible that the authorities leaned on AC/Superfly to allow greater law enforcement presence on the farm. Especially now that AC/Superfly owns the farm the authorities have a number of ways to lean on them pretty hard and can muscle a lot of concession out of them. Any illegal activity at Bonnaroo is both a publicity/image problem for the state and local law enforcement and also an untapped area of potential revenue. And property owners are susceptible to some nasty forfeiture laws that give law enforcement some hefty leverage against them.
But I've heard voices not in the head Out in the air they called ahead Through ripped out speakers Through thick and thin They found a shelter Under my skin -Evgeny Aleksandrovitch Nikolaev
last night at WSP, my friends were layin on the sheet, and i went and danced my way up front with my glass piece full, and this tall middle aged black guy looked at me as i passed and i stopped ahead of him, and he came and stood next to me, waiting for me to hit the bowl, and i didnt, i held out for like 5 minutes. Was kinda shaded out, then i saw him go help the staff guys with some stuff, so he was obviously staff of some sort. Not hard to pick me out though
Post by digitalc0nfusi0n on Jun 18, 2007 23:26:31 GMT -5
I almost got popped trying to make a purchase. As soon as the dude pulled out his bag, two undercovers came out of nowhere and grabbed us. Luckily I didnt have anything on me, and I didnt have any money out, so they let me go. But as I walked away I saw them lead him off in cuffs.
I too thought that the security/police pressence was a little heavier this year. I never had anything taken, but they did screw up the nice organization I had going in my pack.
I also got profiled in Nashville for speeding. I was going the same speed as everyone around me, and Im the one that got pulled over. Just because he saw the camping stuff on top. He even said that he knows that people go to B'roo with drugs. I had to wait on the side of the road for 30 mins for them to walk the dog around my car. Then he hands me my ticket and says see ya.
I'm going to lose all my karma over this, but I don't really care ...
I watched a guy get busted with a POUND of cocaine. One of the security guards confiscated over a million dollars (street value) of drugs and accessories in a single day. You guys are whining over a necessity, IMO.
If you don't want to get busted, do don't anything worth busting. If you're gonna do it, keep a stiff lip when you get busted and take it like a man. Getting arrested is a risk that you're obviously willing to take.
Post by strumntheguitar on Jun 18, 2007 23:42:06 GMT -5
digitalc0nfusi0n said:
I also got profiled in Nashville for speeding. I was going the same speed as everyone around me, and Im the one that got pulled over. Just because he saw the camping stuff on top. He even said that he knows that people go to B'roo with drugs. I had to wait on the side of the road for 30 mins for them to walk the dog around my car. Then he hands me my ticket and says see ya.
It's true the cops crack down on people obviously heading to Roo. Everyone I saw pulled over on the way to and even more so on the way back from Roo had the bumper stickers slapped on there car or even more blatant windows painted with Roo references. Nothing says "pull me over" more than the VW van I saw on the side of the road painted all sorts of psychadellic colors with "HEADIN TO THE ROO!" painted on the windows driven by a bunch of young kids sporting their tye dye. It's unfortunate, but it's part of life.
wow, i don't know where all this came from. i entered by the other tent and was patted down once. even then he hit my front pockets and i walked in.
on sunday, the dude checking bags asked the lady if she had beers in there, she said no and he let her through. he didn't even look at me, turned around to face me and told me to GO ON THROUGH MAN...
i could have brought an AK-47 into bonnaroo through that gate it was so lax.
Post by phishinalong on Jun 19, 2007 12:27:35 GMT -5
its mostly just common sense when it comes into getting through the gates at centeroo. if one line is moving faster than the rest....go to that line. they seem to search more thoroughly when their supervisors are standing behind them watching. as far as placement, just be smart. we never had any problems.
i was sittin at the arches waitin for friends to come through right before ratdog, and there as a long line to get in, and for 5 minutes, and exactly that, they let everyone in, whitout checks or nuthin, justlet them run in. Then, when the five minutes were up, they were yellin at the people walking up . . . '10 seconds till we check your bag', and people started running, they counted down from 10, and as soon as they got to zero, they started checking bags again
Post by sparklybecca on Jun 19, 2007 12:34:18 GMT -5
asdoye111 said:
wow, i don't know where all this came from. i entered by the other tent and was patted down once. even then he hit my front pockets and i walked in.
on sunday, the dude checking bags asked the lady if she had beers in there, she said no and he let her through. he didn't even look at me, turned around to face me and told me to GO ON THROUGH MAN...
i could have brought an AK-47 into bonnaroo through that gate it was so lax.
i had the same experience as you, went thru the gates near other tent and they didnt give a crizzap what you had
I heard the entrance to centeroo next to the ferris wheel was more lax, but never used it myself. Once at the Arch entrance a saw a guy in front of me get padded down, stash found and security offered to let him take it to his tent, which he did. Very next guy in line behind him had a backpack, same security dude found his stash, seized it and gave to a security guy behind him. Didnt offer dude a chance to return it to his tent. Was crazy to watch. I never had an issue. Everytime i got close, had my pockets emptied out, and bag open, and they checked my pants cargo pockets, and looked in my bag without moving anything or checking the bazillion pockets on it. Those that didnt have the bags open when they got to security, seemed to be searched more. So just be prepared, and be smart. If you show them you have nothing to hide, things will go easier and quicker.
Post by masshysteria on Jun 19, 2007 12:53:57 GMT -5
I had absolutely no problems with any securtity or cops at all. We were camped in Camp Only (I think in Sloan Patterson but we were maybe 60 feet from the hole in the fence that led to 3rd Ave) and the only security problems we had were getting into Centeroo and that was just because of a long wait. Had no problems bringing in anything for the shows (amazing how much you can fit in the back of a Treo 650 with taking out the battery). I really do feel sorry for the people who were parked in BFE, and if I go to Roo again next year I will do the exact same thing we did this year.
"That's the big thing about education. People can be book smart, but not really intelligent about anything else. A lot of times they just taking in all this information and regurgitate it. It's much more important to process it and personalize it. To apply it to your world, to your life. You have to walk the walk, or you can't really report about it honestly."
Post by bamadancer on Jun 19, 2007 13:38:53 GMT -5
Use the side entrance next year. It's always better. They just asked us "You dont have anything in there you shouldn't, do you?" and gave our bags a quick peek and let us through. I don't mind the tight security, I just was pissed that when they went through our stuff (in the car check) they left it laying out. They also confiscated my friend's glass piece without even telling him about it. But I agree, it's a risk you take...just be smart. As long as the security doesn't get any worse, I'm fine with it...
security was extremely lax from my perspective. gatekeeper let me in with my packed glass piece. told me to empty out a flask of whiskey and to not let his boss see it. didnt once search my camelback ( always have that off your back and ready to hand to them) and the sherriffs along bushybranch on the four wheelers seemed to be oblivious to vendors selling anything they wanted. eh and i hope the guy that brought the pound of cocaine gets sodomized, idiot
security was so chill with me, didn't look in my car or even open the trunk on the way in. also i brought beer and anything else you can think of into centeroo everyday and never got hasseled and twice they didn't pat me down or anything.
Post by blazinhazen on Jun 19, 2007 14:19:24 GMT -5
my husband went through the centeroo line on sunday & the "security guy" that was looking through his backpack had a glass pipe in his hand that he had confiscated from someone else. my husband asked him if it was for the 1 millionth customer...the guy just laughed and shoved it into the bottom of our backpack saying he couldn't keep it for himself. didn't seem too tough to us. but why take it from someone just to give it to someone else?
Car checkpoint: One late 20's male asked me through the passenger window if I had any weapons, firearms, illegal substances, glass or fireworks. I calmy answered "no, sir." and gave a smile. He asked to check the coolers so I hoped out and helped him untie everything (it was under a tarp on the back of my truck). Opened all the coolers and glanced - never touched the plastic tubs or tent/clothes bags. He thanks me for the help and threw the tarp back over for me, waved us through. Took all of 2-3 minutes. He never even looked inside the car.
Centeroo side gate: Thursday I got a patdown and dirrect questions about carrying anything I shouldn't be. I had nothing on me so nothing to fear.
The rest of the days I just approached with a smile while holding my phone, wallet and keys in my hands and held my arms out when i walked up. each time they glanced at my pockets and waved me through. not even 5 seconds to pass.
We never got picked out by cops either - red toyota pickup with the bed packed half full and a silver tarp covering it all. nothing to stand out but obviously heading to the 'roo given the fact it was two 20 year olds in the car with GA plates
Post by stallion pt. 2 on Jun 19, 2007 14:28:23 GMT -5
mokane said:
never saw one cop, and bought tons of stuff
Same here. Not only that, but I experience by far the most lax centeroo (non-VIP) searches I have ever seen in 6 years of Roo. also saw NOBODY pulled over on the way in, which was a complete 180 from last year.
John: We don't even understand our own music Spider: It doesn't, does it matter whether we understand it? At least it'll give us . . . strength John: I know but maybe we could get into it more if we understood it
Post by sgtkilljoy on Jun 19, 2007 14:56:23 GMT -5
car check was very quick. opened all the doors, didnt really move anything. on 06 they didnt open the glove box, but they did this year. everytime i went into centeroo, i would open my bag completely, showed i had nothing to hid(since i crotched my stuff), and several times they didnt even pat my pockets(shocking). And one time, they did just wave a crap load of people without any check whatsoever.
and as far as buying stuff, i never myself saw an undercover cop, and i heard of people getting arrested for selling gooballs. i did see cop cars with people in the back, but not really that often. you just gotta lose them among the tents.
When we went into the park, I was pissed off because I read the thing that came with our tickets about no glass, and we had a cooler packed full of glass bottles of beer... So when we were out on the interstate I took it all out of the cooler, stuck some water in there, and hid the beer amongst our camping gear (not that well, either, mind you). When we are about to get checked, the guy asks if we have any glass or drugs and my girlfriend gets a clear conscience and tells him we have glass beer bottles back there, so I give her a pissed off look. So he goes back and checks, comes back and says, "I didn't see any glass back there." So I figure, this guy only either looked in the cooler and saw my water, and figured it wasn't worth searching further, or he found it and didn't care. So I told him, "I didn't have much, I must have drank it last night." And he let us through.
Post by WestStainesMassive on Jun 19, 2007 18:50:05 GMT -5
No problems here. I used the main stage entrance everytime. I even saw a security guard (a younger one) pull the top of a zip lock bag out of someones pocket but not far enough to see what was inside and let him through with it. lucky guy. I didnt see or hear about any undercovers during the fest but I did see some shady guys looking around at my friends while they were buying goods.
oh, and if there were so many undercovers how to people just put signs out for gangetreats. do they just not care about pot and only the harder stuff?
Post by urbanhippie on Jun 19, 2007 18:55:02 GMT -5
"Police made at least 73 arrests, mostly for drug-related violations, and handed out close to 200 citations, which was comparable to the number of incidents reported last year." E! Online
so for all you guys freaking out it wasn't any worse lol
So basically inside of roo .3 percent of the population got in trouble for illegal activity