A football tailgate is a gathering of fans to celebrate their football team before they football game begins, and usually occurs somewhere outside of the football stadium in a parking lot next to the fan's car, thus the term "tailgating." While the purpose of the tailgate is to have fun and get 'pumped up' before a game, tailgates have become legal liabilities fraught with criminal behavior. Many cities have put specific laws in place to curtail tailgating, primarily because of the large amounts of alcohol and ensuing problems created from the binge-drinking atmosphere of the tailgate. Some ban alcohol all together, while others have common source laws in place to try to discourage large group drinking. Most tailgate areas are heavily policed, and most police are encouraged to be active in issuing citations for violations. Public urination, physical assault, minor in possession of alcohol and DUI offenses are common among tailgates. If you are in at a tailgate, understand the situation and keep yourself and your environment in control, as you are there to have fun, not to commit a criminal offense or be the victim of one.