Once again, NASCAR race week is upon us here in Dover, Delaware. The City of Dover Police Department welcomes fans to the 2016 NASCAR Race Series at the Dover International Speedway from Friday, May 13th through Sunday, May 15th. The biannual event is rolling into Dover this week and can bring over 100,000 people to the capital city. As with any other large event, race weekend can provide numerous challenges for our department, the citizens of Dover, and the fans coming in. The Dover Police Department in coordination DelDOT’s Transportation Management Center (TMC) and the Delaware State Police will monitor traffic in and around the Dover vicinity to ensure safe travel for all motorists. The Dover Police Department would like to offer the following tips/advice to help make life a little easier this week for our citizens and visitors to the Dover area.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS:
- In Any Emergency: Dial 9-1-1
- Dover Police Department (Non-Emergency Line): 302-736-7111
- Text alerts from Dover Speedway: Text DOVERALERTS to 99000 to sign up.
- Dover Speedway: 1-800-441-RACE (7223)
- Dover Speedway Security: 302-883-6753
- Grandstand Concerns: Text 69050 and inside the message type: Doverfan (insert space) then list your location and need
SOCIAL MEDIA:
- Dover Police Department Facebook
- Dover Police Department Twitter or @DoverDEPolice
- Dover International Speedway Facebook
- Dover International Speedway Twitter or @MonsterMile
- DelDOT (DE Dept. of Transportation) Facebook
- DelDOT Twitter or @Delaware DOT
TRAFFIC:
- Most race related traffic will begin to arrive Wednesday and continue through the weekend. The increased volume will cause minor delays in the area of the Dover Downs main entrance, US Rt 13/Leipsic Road, and Route 1/Scarborough Road areas. Please allow extra time for your morning commute to avoid delays.
- ALL HANDICAPPED PARKING FOR ALL EVENTS MUST ENTER THROUGH THE MAIN DOVER SPEEDWAY ENTRANCE OFF OF ROUTE 13/N. DuPont Highway (Between Chipotle and TJ MAXX)
- TAKE IT SLOW: When traveling the Route 13 corridor, please obey all posted speed limits and traffic laws. Not only does volume increase on our roadways but pedestrian traffic is substantially higher than normal.
- Use alternate routes prior to the race start and at the conclusion of each race to avoid the traffic congestion that occurs when the races let out. Route 9, Route 1, Route 8, and Route 15 are great alternatives to avoid the race traffic.
- YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS
- BE AWARE of police/traffic officials directing traffic and follow their commands to reach your destination safely.
RACE FAN SAFETY/SECURITY:
- Please do not drink and drive or cross roadways when impaired.
- Cross roadways at intersections or where police officials are directing traffic in order to cross safely.
- Please obey all police/traffic officials directions.
- Only travel in the passenger compartment of vehicles with seat belts on and not truck beds, bumpers, tailgates, etc.
- Do not operate golf carts, ATV’s, and other non-registered vehicles on roadways
- Secure all property (bikes, golf carts, coolers, etc) prior to leaving your camp sites
- Remove keys and secure golf carts to a fixed object when possible to avoid theft.
- Lock all campers/RV’s and secure tent zippers with locks if possible
- Lost & Found: Please turn found items over to a Speedway employee at any gate. To retrieve a lost item, go to Ticket Services near Gate 3, open Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. After hours, call (302) 883-6753 or, after the weekend, email info@doverspeedway.com.
FIRST AID LOCATIONS AT THE TRACK:
First Aid locations are open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the following areas:
- Finish Line Drive, across from Gate 1 (Open Thursday also)
- Corner of Persimmon Tree Lane and Pit Stop Road near Lot 9
- Gate5 (South side of track)
- Across from Gate 15 (Near hospitality village)
- Inside Turn 4, just outside of Nationwide Series Garage (Restricted Access)
LOST CHILD/PARTY SEPARATION:
- In the event of a lost child (under 18), please contact the nearest speedway employee/security or a police officer. Details such as clothing, location last seen, recent photographs, etc will be beneficial to reuniting a child and parent/guardian.
- We encourage you to take photos of your group/children at the beginning of each day to have the most recent clothing/description available.
- If you have lost a member of your party (adult), contact a Speedway employee, security, or go to the Fan Care Center on Finish Line Drive across from Gate 1.
CITY OF DOVER OPEN CONTAINER ORDINANCE:
- Public place means any place to which the general public has access and a right to resort for business, entertainment, or other lawful purposes, but does not necessarily mean a place devoted solely to the use of the public. It shall also include the front or immediate area of any store, shop, restaurant, tavern, or other place of business and also public grounds, areas, or parks.
(b) Public places. Except when permitted by federal, state, county or municipal law, it is unlawful for any person to consume, or possess with the intent to consume, any alcoholic liquor in or upon any street, alley, highway, public way, public building or public place within the city.
(c)Underage persons. Whoever, being under the age of 21 years, has alcoholic liquor in his possession at any time, or consumes or is found to have consumed alcoholic liquor, shall be fined as provided for in Appendix F—Fees and Fines. Fines not paid within 14 days of the day the fine was issued, including the day the fine was issued, shall be automatically doubled in amount.
