Tailgating at Mizzou football games is one of Columbia's great traditions — but the parking lots around Memorial Stadium are also one of the most heavily policed areas in Boone County on game day. Minor in possession, fake ID, open container, DWI, and disorderly conduct charges are common. If you were charged with a crime at a tailgate, a criminal defense attorney can help you understand your options and protect your record. Bur Oak Legal represents students and fans charged with offenses related to tailgating in Columbia and across central Missouri.
(573) 499-0200 — free consultationGame day in Columbia draws tens of thousands of fans, and law enforcement maintains a visible presence around Memorial Stadium and Faurot Field. The charges that arise most frequently at tailgating events involve alcohol, identification, and conduct — and many of them carry real criminal consequences under Missouri Revised Statutes.
For students at the University of Missouri, a tailgating arrest creates exposure on two fronts. The criminal case is handled in Boone County court under Missouri law. The university disciplinary case is handled internally by MU's student conduct office. These proceedings are independent — a favorable outcome in one does not automatically resolve the other.
The university's student conduct code requires students to report certain criminal charges and convictions. Even if charges are eventually reduced or dismissed in criminal court, the disciplinary proceeding may continue based on the underlying facts. Students should understand this dynamic before making any statements — to police or to university administrators.
What you say at a student conduct hearing can be used in your criminal case. The rules of evidence that protect you in criminal court do not apply in university disciplinary proceedings. If you make admissions in a disciplinary hearing before your criminal case resolves, prosecutors can potentially use those statements against you. Always consult with a criminal defense attorney before any hearing — criminal or disciplinary.
Tailgating charges are handled in Boone County courts — the same courts where Bur Oak Legal regularly represents clients. Before private practice, Chris Miller worked as a government attorney — in an environment where cases live and die on procedure and evidence. That background means he understands how institutions build and process cases, and where there are opportunities to negotiate or challenge the outcome.
He has appeared before the Missouri Supreme Court and won a case that expanded the rights of Missourians statewide. For students, he understands both the criminal case and the university disciplinary process — and how to navigate both without creating problems in either. Missouri Supreme Court track record. Free consultation. Call (573) 499-0200.
Many people assume that tailgating criminal charges in Columbia, Missouri are minor nuisances — the kind of thing that gets resolved with a fine and a lecture. That assumption can be costly. When an incident at a University of Missouri tailgate turns into a criminal matter, the stakes escalate quickly. What begins as friends gathering before a game can involve allegations of assault, disorderly conduct, possession of alcohol by a minor, or even aggravated speeding on surrounding roadways. Each of those charges carries its own penalties under Missouri criminal law, and a conviction can follow a person long after the final whistle.
Not every tailgating-related charge happens in a parking lot. Aggressive driving near stadium areas — following too closely, swerving near a truck or pedestrian, road rage directed at another driver — can result in criminal traffic charges beyond a standard traffic ticket. A beating that starts as a verbal dispute near a vehicle, speeding through a crowd, or a crime committed during the chaos of a game-day event all fall within the same category: situations where an arrest can ruin far more than just the weekend. If you have been cited or charged following a game-day incident, the time to contact an attorney is before your first court appearance, not after.
A tailgating charge doesn't have to define your record. Many first-time offenders have real options. Call Bur Oak Legal for a free, confidential consultation — no obligation, and no cost to discuss your situation.