TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A clear bag policy will be in effect for all Florida State University athletic events, beginning with the first home competitions of the 2016 season, including the football opener in September.
"The new clear bag policy will provide a safer environment at home events and should significantly expedite fan entry into FSU athletic venues, including Doak Campbell Stadium," FSU announced on its website.
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The university said the new policy will closely match policies already in place at NFL stadiums. It's also similar to policies recently announced by Clemson and Florida.
"The NFL has this for a while. A lot of major college programs are doing this also," said Gil Smith, News4Jax crime and safety analyst. "For one thing, people will be able to get through the lines faster. They find that when they have these bags, it takes a long time to search through them and people get into the event a lot later. With the clear bags, they can still check them, but they can get through a lot faster."
Smith reiterated that the new policy will make athletic events safer.
"It's a security issue. They can just check for weapons or any type of explosive or anything like that. It's all for safety and expediency," Smith said.
Each fan is allowed to bring one clear bag, plus a clutch or small purse, into FSU home athletic events with these restrictions:
- Bag must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and must be no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches
- One-gallon, clear, re-sealable plastic storage bags meet the policy
- If a logo appears on the bag, it can't be larger than 4 1/2 inches by 6 1/2 inches
- Small clutches no larger than 4 1/2 inches by 6 1/2 inches or approximately the size of a hand, with or without a strap, are allowed
- If you have a medical item that is too large to fit into a clear bag, it must be screened at Gate C and then it will be allowed inside.
Items not approved include:
- Camera case
- Binoculars case
- Backpack
- Printed pattern plastic bag
- Tinted plastic bag
- Diaper bag
- Oversized tote
- Mesh bag