New Event Rules In Place At Tulsa Public Schools

News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A week after the fight at a high school football game, Tulsa Public Schools is rewriting the rules for game day security. 

"Everybody understands that safety and security are important if we want to enjoy venues like this, we're gonna have to make them safe," said TPS Police Chief Gary Rudick.

The rest of the regulations go into effect for Friday's games.  TPS police wanted an extra day to get more signs up, alerting fans of the new rules.

New rules:

• Every high school student will need a student ID to get into a game.
• Middle school and younger students won't get in unless they're accompanied by an adult.
• No congregating will be allowed at games.
• No one will be allowed to enter the stadium after the third quarter begins.
• Those who don't abide by the rules risk getting kicked out of the stadium.

"I think it's unfortunate that we have to have a crackdown at all, but the fact that we have some outside elements do come in football games and cause trouble," said Tami Marler, TPS spokesperson. 

"We just want everybody who attends football games  to be safe and we're going to have to take extroadinary measures to make sure are patrons are safe."

The changes effect every high school in Tulsa Public Schools, and every school that plays against TPS is expected to follow the same rules.

There is a new hotline for people to call in if they have heard of any trouble planned for a game. Call 749-9966 and 596-COPS to report potential problems

Officers used pepper spray to get a mob at Friday's Booker T. Washington and East Central game under control.

09/15/2009 Related Story: TPS Police Say Pepper Spray Will Stay

Part of those policies went into effect as Tulsa Webster hosted Sand Springs on Thursday night.  No one was allowed into the stadium after the third quarter, and spectators had to produce an ID upon request.

Police were also on patrol, making the more intensive security presence known.