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!!
The guy as I pull in doesn't ask if I have anything, but does ask me to open up the trunk to look at the cooler. I open it up (just a jug of OJ and can Coke's and water) and his supervisor comes over and says "There's a gap here....Let him go!". The cars in front of me had already pulled up so he said "O.K." and I hopped in and drove on.
Thursday coming in to Centeroo I walked up to the Other Tent entrance with everything from my pockets but my wallet in my hands. As my turn comes up I tell the guy "Everything's out of my pockets but my wallet", he pats my front pockets and starts to wave me through. He then stops me and asks to look in my open cigarette pack. I offer no resistance and hand over the pack without saying a word. The supervisor in the grey shirt then walks over, taps the guy in the yellow shirt on the shoulder, and says to him, "That's enough...let him go." As I walk by him the guy in the grey shirt says to me, "Thanks for your patience, dude." He became my personal security guy from that point on and whoever he was standing behind was the line I got into for the search. Even got my camera in Friday ( bite me, Maynard ;D).
It's really all about luck. I didn't get searched on the way in, but a few of the times I entered Centeroo I was searched like crazy.
One time (Saturday early afternoon), I was entering the entrance by the What Stage, and the guy searched the HELL out of my Camelbak. I had no drugs of any kind on me, but he felt the need to really search it. He ended up finding a Swiss Army knife that I always carry in that bag (which is really well packed away). He took it from me.
"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
So, okay, my friend urbanhippie, what percent of the population do you think was actually participating in illegal activity?
I know I took a few tokes so I could be a participant in the illegal activities ~~ grin.
Loved the security at the main gate when we were coming in. We told the nice folks we didn't have any of the glass or other scary stuff and they just wanted to look in the one cooler that wasn't loaded with stuff on top. Right on top was a glass bottle of wine ~~ oops my daughter's bad. She told them she forgot it was there, cause she was planning to drink it on the way. They let us open the bottle and pour it into a glass and an empty beer can before throwing it away. Then they said hurry up people are waiting to get in....
It doesn't get any better than that my friends! I even have pics for this story but I can't get them off my card and into the computer. My card reader keeps saying card error. Try to get them on soon.
This was my fourth year and security seemed pretty lax to me. I remember in '05 seeing a ton of cops on ATVs roaming around. Didn't see much of that at all this year. They looked in our glovebox and trunk when we came in, but didn't go through any of our stuff. Getting into Centeroo is really easy if you take everything out of your pockets and have your bag opened and ready for them to peek into. If everyone did this the lines would speed up dramatically. Also, if you're a guy and you're there with a girl that doesn't mind stashing unmentionables, that's the way to go. My wife didn't get touched by centeroo security all weekend...just waved right on through. Oh and Shakedown was definetely there, you just had to look around. I too was confused at first, but I had no problem getting anything I wanted once I found it. I think it's actually a good idea to move Shakedown away from the highly trafficked area. No need for people that don't want to be a part of it to have to walk through it everyday to get to Centeroo.
Post by redonkulous on Jun 20, 2007 10:19:21 GMT -5
I noticed a great deal of inconsistency in the degree of searches into centeroo. I remember one time, all i did was take my cell phone out of my pocket, and I was waved through. At the same time, the guard in the next line over was going through this dude's cargo pockets with a flashlight.
I was entertained by the supervisor at the ferris wheel gate though. He was standing behind all the guards and shouting to the crowd "WE ARE NOT HERE TO RUIN YOUR TIME. IF WE FIND SOMETHING WE HAVE TO TAKE IT. YOU NEED TO BEEEE CREATIVE!!!!"
what really upsets me is that we weren't told that things were going to be different this year. (at least I never saw anything). i just would've liked a heads up of "Oh btw we're serioius about..." or "Just so you know DTF will be conducting anal searches"...or something. i understand that Bonnaroo isn't it's own sovereign entity, but when people come to expect a certain level of security something should be done to make people aware of it
My boyfriend lost his green going into Centeroo by "The Other Tent". I was pretty angry because I had my legit allergy medications in the same bag and didn't need to be getting in trouble for him being stupid. (He put it in a pill bottle in the backpack with our medications). Same thing happened to my friend but I don't know at what entrance and she had hers in her eyeglass case.
I found at night the security was more lax, and the only police I saw was along Bushy Branch on our way out on Sunday. They were Deputies on ATVs.
I did notice a few cars stopped on the highway on the way down. I drove the speed limit becaue I figured the car from MA driving in the middle of the night would obviously be going to Bonnaroo, even though we didn't have anything written on the car or stapped to the roof.
during the galatic show i put some things inside of my baby wipes canister.. worked the whole weekend UNTIL
i get to the front of the line and i get the guy searching hardcore, he takes everything out and shakes up the wipes can.. says "hmm whats in here?" hands me back my bag and puts my wipes on top of the trashcan with a look like "carry on citizen"... I gave him the look of death and as he was stunned I grabbed back my canister and he tried to take it as i grabbed... well anger motivated my strength and i still got my goods... but jesus christ was i pissed. rules shmules.. he didn't even look inside.. i walked away so pissed and then remembered the poor hippie i saw get tackled by 5 dudes and then relentlessly sucker punched so i started moving my ass much quicker.
its making me shake right now i was so aggravated.
Last Edit: Jun 20, 2007 12:59:40 GMT -5 by xeus - Back to Top
free speech is like money, some people just have a lot more of it than others
the securtiy at the entrance in the back of the field took about 500 glow sticks from me. thats about the only problem i had. the night before i went in with a shit load for cheese and no pa down or look in the bag or anything. oh well.
Because of this guy nobody bothered to even talk to us or open a car door on the way through the gates at about 6:30am. We guess around 7lbs of boomers were snatched from this guy. The best part is the huge smile on his face.
No problems w/ searches into Centeroo. We used the entrance through the VIP area at the back of the What Stage.
Post by stuckinutero on Jun 20, 2007 12:44:42 GMT -5
We got severely tossed upon entering on weds night. Got met by the Cofee county sheriffs dept at the gate, and they ripped us apart thoroughly as we were one of the first 1,000 people to enter the grounds. They pretty much only found what I decided to give them (pipe, g of bud) and missed our weekend stash. From what I saw, the RVs (including mine) got completely raped upon entering. Most of the people who are saying this is no big deal probably haven't been to Roo before, and don't remember what it was like in previous years. I really can't complain about the police at the gates and on bushy branch rd, but the second I saw 2 cops on quads weds night patrolling shakedown (On the grounds/Private property) I knew this festival had changed for the worse. Not only that, but I also saw numerous armed officers inside centeroo.
The point is, whether you have police there or not the same sh#t is going to go down. The only difference now is that people are getting busted/fined/arrested for dumb charges like possesion of a half and stuff like that. All revenue for the county. I pretty much follow the logic of the sheriff who tossed our car. "As long as it stays on the grounds, we don't care." But that wasn't the case. They played cowboy and sent DTs out. I'm sure alot of people would be singing to a different tune if a beloved inforoo regular got arrested on a bogus charge.
I was born in the back seat of a Yellow Cab in a hospital loading zone and with the meter still running. I emerged needing a shave and shouted 'Time Square, and step on it!
Post by sparklybecca on Jun 20, 2007 12:48:10 GMT -5
its so strange how some of us saw the worst and some of us saw none at all, my brothers RV didnt get searched at all... while yours got obviously did....
No troubles here. We arrived in our RV around 9pm Thursday night. We were waiting in line to get past the security check point and get our wristbands when the head of security started yelling "It's Christmas time! Let's go, let's go!". This was obviously code for "The line is getting backed up too far so let everyone go through without a search". We drove right past security and into the lane for getting our wristbands. No search. No worries. We certainly didn't have 7lbs. of boomboom's but enough contraband that it definitely made it feel like a nice Christmas gift. Thanks Bonnaroo!
Post by supernaut6011 on Jun 20, 2007 13:05:11 GMT -5
We must have been lucky (or just know how to deal with people). On the way in I was shooting the shit with the guy searching cars about the heat and how his day was going. He asked if we had glass, we said no, then we were in... no search of anything at all! As far as getting into Centeroo my friend and I were a little intoxicated on Thursday night and forgot to drink all the beers we had in out bags. We told the lady on the way in and all she did was take one of each and let us keep the rest. The only time I had any real trouble was on Friday night I was WAY gone and I think the guy could tell because he made me open my bag, take all the shit out of my pockets, and then he just stood there and giggled at me knowing how hard that was for me with all the chemicals floating through my head. =) It was kinda funny!
Post by bamadancer on Jun 20, 2007 13:13:12 GMT -5
What I don't understand is the glowsticks rule. I don't remember reading about it to begin with, and I got my glowsticks in just fine on Thursday and Friday night (I had 4 tied to my bag on friday and it was no problem) and then all of a sudden Saturday night they started confiscating them. Did they change for a specific reason or what?
Post by stuckinutero on Jun 20, 2007 13:22:00 GMT -5
sparklybecca said:
its so strange how some of us saw the worst and some of us saw none at all, my brothers RV didnt get searched at all... while yours got obviously did....
It's totally random, and based on profiling. In previous years it was something like 1 in every 30 cars got eyeballed. This year they said they stepped it up big time to 1 in every 4. I'm fine with that. I'm not one of those idiots who turns a blind eye to the law, but them sending DTs out to do busts is uncalled for. Bonnaroo has always been a testament to the fact that even if the masses are spun out of their minds, they still get by in a peaceful passive manner.
Sorry to everyone if I sound a little bitter. I had a blast (as usual) this year. To be honest, the crowd there bothered me more this year than the police. I've always been able to filter out the a$$holes in the past because they were few and far between. This year I was pretty much surrounded by them. I haven't punched someone in years, and that was because I saw some meathead slap a girl around. By time Sunday rolled around this year I was seriously ready to let loose after seeing a bunch of grimmey hippies stealing from other peoples sites and breaking their stuff. Only because it wasn't an isolated incident, and I had seen numerous things that just pissed me off the entire weekend.
I spent five nights there, and I think it was a bit much this year. When I dig up a working keyboard I'm sure i'll create a big rant.
Whatever happens to my feelings about roo, I'll still post here. All of you are the best, and I really love posting here. Regardless of what happens to bonnaroo pertaining to unruly crowds and the police I know the true spirit of the festival will remain alive in all the posters on this board.
I was born in the back seat of a Yellow Cab in a hospital loading zone and with the meter still running. I emerged needing a shave and shouted 'Time Square, and step on it!
The security was tighter but is still run by people that dont seem like they care that much. I had stuff in my back pocket everytime I went in and never had a problem. I had people search through my bag and my cargo pockets (the one guy was whispering under his breath show me the sweet stuff) and not once did they ever decide to check my back pockets. Just had all my items in the bag or emtpied out my others pockets and they would just run their hand over my side...that was about as hard as it was.
shakedown was much different though. They seemed to really be trying to get people selling there. We saw a guy on sunday night being run down by mounted partol...he got away by ducking through tents but still. We also saw at least 3 other people get busted. I guess just be obvious or stupid and all is well (but you cant say that for the randopm police checks...if they want to profile they are just goin too)
i think the worst part about security this year was how they cracked down on all the vendors and the people selling glass. i was extremely disappointed by the lack of glass this year. i feel like those people who make and sell glass are a staple of our community and i saw one dude get his whole case of glass confiscated and thats pretty f'd up since he spent his money and time to make those pieces and then they just get taken away for no good reason.
there was someone w/ a tank of illicit gaseous matter dispensing it into balloons really close to our camp site
this incessant, loud hiss went on for almost a whole day before it got shut down -- the security couldn't have been that strict out where we were camping
Post by gonephishin on Jun 20, 2007 20:25:28 GMT -5
i have already posted this elsewhere but there was definitely a higher police presence this year than in any other year i have been there (which has been 5 straight years). on friday afternoon i picked up some goodies on shakdown since all of ours were taken on the crazy search coming into the grounds. well about an hour later a couple of guys in plain clothes stroll into camp and pop me for simple possesion becasue i had the bag sitting in the cup holder of my chair. i am not complaining at all becasue i still had a fantastic time. but its not like we were hurting or bothering anyone. christ we were camped wayyyyyy out in camp scott evil. i just thought if cops were going to be patrolling the grounds they could find something better to do than bust the balls of a guy who is sitting around having some choice beverages at his campsite with his buddies. what are ya gonna do though? pay the fine and move on. you guys have a good time at roo next year... they will not be getting my money again anytime soon. thanks again to all the awesome peeps on here and the people that gave me 5 awesome years of memories once again
Post by AintNoFreedom on Jun 20, 2007 20:41:25 GMT -5
Weird to hear about the undercover cops.. the security gave my gf a hard time about her perscription everytime we went into Centeroo, but I was the one sneaking in booze, ect. and was fine.
Post by gonephishin on Jun 20, 2007 20:48:17 GMT -5
yeah i know its heard to believe. i also saw kids getting their coolers of bottled water taken away for not having vendor linceses. they were nice enough guys though. seemed like all they were intrested in was handing out another 400 dollar fine
Post by augustwest on Jun 20, 2007 21:57:38 GMT -5
This year was the first time i have seen the armed cops seemingly patrolling randomly, luckily they didn't look around very hard the 2 or 3 times they rolled by, I think they were looking for more blatant stupidity, which luckily didn't happen to be going on the times they strolled by. I am a little troubled by the tighter security, but only enough to be careful next time.
Post by rideincircles on Jun 21, 2007 2:12:29 GMT -5
I had a six pack confiscated from me in Centeroo when a supervisor rolled by, i didnt even get to open one of them. The security at Bonnaroo compared nothing to the searches at Coachella, but these are two different beasts, at Coachella there are seperate lines for guys and girls to get searched going into the venue, and the search all the pockets and nooks a crannies. Also camping at Coachella they didnt search hardcore the first day, but were going through most everything the next days. I had no problems with security all weekend at Bonnaroo other than my beer which wasnt really hidden. I did see some people with cigarettes get taken away, and my friends saw some one getting busted, but nothing major. Getting arrested for anything crazy like that would cause me to lose my job though.