No more tailgating at Jiffy Lube Live

There will be no more tailgating at Jiffy Lube Live.

Spokespeople for Jiffy Lube and its owner Live Nation didn’t return phones and emails late this week. But Prince William County police confirm that the Bristow concert venue is cracking down on partying in the parking lot. No pop-up tents, no portable grills and absolutely no alcohol.

There has always been a rule against drinking in the parking lot. But now the outdoor amphitheater is adopting a “no tolerance” policy when it comes to drinking and tailgating.

Fans buying tickets for shows this season were surprised to see “No Tailgating” stamped on their stubs. On its Facebook page, Jiffy Lube Live writes that safety, and abiding by Virginia’s law banning public alcohol consumption, prompted the change.

 “The safety of the fans is of paramount importance and we have an ongoing commitment to work with the local police department on all shows to ensure a safe environment for all of our fans. As part of this commitment, it has been determined that it is in the best interest of the fans and their overall experience at the venue to not allow tailgating.”

Just how does pavilion staff plan on enforcing the new policy at an amphitheater that holds 25,000 people?

Police say that the parking lots won’t open for the May 21 WMZQFest until 3 p.m. and the gates won’t open until 4 p.m. – an hour and a half later than usual.

If county police – hired by Jiffy Lube to enforce laws and pavilion rules – see anyone tailgating or drinking, they’ll give one warning. After that, Jiffy Lube officials will obtain trespassing paperwork and have the offenders removed from the property, police say.

Fans, particularly “Parrotheads” who flock to Jimmy Buffett shows, have flooded Jiffy Lube Live’s Facebook page with complaints. They’ve even started a Facebook page of their own called “Boycott Jiffy Lube Live Tailgating Policy.”

Since 2009, four people have died in drunken driving crashes following concerts at Jiffy Lube Live.

In September 2009, a drunken Stafford County man driving home from a Jimmy Buffett concert at Jiffy Lube hit a car on Prince William Parkway, killing a woman and her 2-year-old grandson.

William John Mallory, 26, is serving prison time for involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of 60-year-old Rebecca Sacra and 2-year-old Jonathan Ortiz.

Last August, 15-year-old Derek Meffert and 18-year-old Steven Dixon died in a crash on Logmill Road in Haymarket.

Both teenagers were killed after Dixon lost control of his Mazda RX-8, collided with an Acura, then flipped over on Logmill Road, police said.

Dixon and his friends were on their way home from a Rascal Flatts concert at Jiffy Lube Live. Police say alcohol and speed were factors in the crash.

Discuss this story on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/insidenova.