NASCAR policy on enforcing the Confederate flag ban; Arrest possible

44% of NASCAR fans aren’t in favor of the Confederate flag ban; How will they enforce it? An arrest isn’t off the table

Last week, NASCAR banned the Confederate Flag. This is an announcement that isn’t welcomed by 44% of the NASCAR fanbase.

That data also showed 34% of sports fans (outside of NASCAR) also didn’t agree with the ban.

Poll Data: Morning Consult

Given the wide range of disapproval, you can certainly expect some violations in the near future. Possibly, as soon as this weekend.

Talladega Superspeedway is bringing in a limited number of 5,000 race fans to the track this weekend. The Alabama track hasn’t lacked Confederate flags in the past.

Related: Confederate flag banned from NASCAR events

NASCAR policy on Confederate flag removal

So, how will NASCAR keeps the flags out?

They hope to catch them at the gates. At NASCAR events, bags are checked for things like weapons and fireworks. The Confederate flag has now been added to that list.

But, the thing about a flag is that it’s foldable. Some will still be able to sneak flags into the track.

If that happens?

If you read the back of your race ticket, you’ll notice that NASCAR has the rights to remove you from the facility, for any reason they feel justified.

Fans are quick to jump to point out that their freedoms are being removed by NASCAR not allowing them to fly the flag. They note it as a constitutional right to fly a flag of their choice.

But, those rights go away when you buy a ticket.

NASCAR Policy: If a flag is on display at the track, NASCAR will first ask the fan to take it down. If that doesn’t work, they could ask them to leave the facility. If they remain non-compliant, an arrest could be conducted with a trespassing charge to follow.

Related: Bubba Wallace comments on kneeling and the Confederate flag at NASCAR races

Steve O’Donnell on enforcing the Confederate Flag ban

“That will certainly be a challenge,” he said on SiriusXM. “We’ll try to do that the right way.”

“We’ll get ahead of it as we are today in letting people know that, ‘Hey, we’re all about pride, we’re all about America, fly your U.S. flag high, fly your driver’s flags high and come on in to the track,”’

“But if we see something displayed at the track, we’re going to have to react, and we will. More details to come but I’m confident we’ll do that and we’ll do that in a smart way.”

RV Parks

It’s not uncommon to see a Confederate flag at an RV Park that’s near a NASCAR event. Sometimes, those parks are directly across the street from the speedway.

These will remain an issue for the sport.

Any RV Parks owned by the track itself, will also see a ban of the Confederate flag. But, for parks that sit next to the track and aren’t owned by NASCAR or the Speedway, it remains unclear how the sport will address those situations.

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