June 2026 brings a full slate of Detroit Tigers homestands at Comerica Park, drawing tens of thousands of fans from Plymouth, Canton, and the western suburbs to downtown Detroit. With weekday night games, weekend day games, and the energy of a competitive season, the entire corridor between Comerica Park and the western suburbs sees elevated police activity from mid-afternoon through the early morning hours.
If you got caught up in something on a Tigers night, here is what to expect.
Where Comerica Park Cases Go
Comerica Park is located in the City of Detroit. Misdemeanor cases arising at the stadium and on surrounding streets are arraigned in the 36th District Court in Detroit — one of the busiest district courts in Michigan. Felony cases are bound over to Wayne County Circuit Court after preliminary examination.
The 36th District Court schedules arraignments quickly and handles enormous volume daily. Having a lawyer at arraignment is often the difference between burdensome bond conditions and reasonable ones.
Common Charges at and Around Tigers Games
OWI on the Drive Home
The most common Tigers-game charge is OWI on the drive home. The post-game routes from Comerica Park to Plymouth and Canton involve I-94, I-75, the Lodge (M-10), and either I-275 south or M-14 west. Michigan State Police, Wayne County Sheriff, and Detroit Police all patrol these corridors heavily after night games.
First-offense OWI under MCL 257.625 carries up to 93 days in jail (180 for High BAC), $100–$500 in fines ($200–$700 for High BAC), a 30-day hard license suspension followed by 150 days restricted, six points, and substance abuse treatment.
Open Intoxicants in a Motor Vehicle
MCL 257.624a makes it a misdemeanor to transport an open or uncapped alcoholic beverage container in the passenger area of a vehicle. Common scenarios: leftover beers in a backpack or cooler in the passenger compartment after tailgating, or an open drink from a post-game stop in Greektown.
Disorderly Conduct
MCL 750.167 is a 90-day misdemeanor that covers public intoxication, fighting, jostling, or refusing lawful dispersal orders. Tigers cases often involve loud or argumentative behavior in concourses, parking decks, or surrounding bars.
Assault and Battery
From simple assault (MCL 750.81 — 93-day misdemeanor) through felonious assault with a weapon (MCL 750.82 — four-year felony), fights between fan factions or unrelated strangers downtown are a regular source of charges.
Resisting and Obstructing
MCL 750.81d makes resisting or obstructing a police officer a two-year felony. This charge frequently escalates a minor disorderly situation into a felony when the contact with the responding officer goes badly.
Minor in Possession and Fake ID Charges
Tailgating in lots around Comerica often involves underage drinking and fake IDs. MIP under MCL 436.1703 is a civil infraction for a first offense; fake ID under MCL 28.295 and MCL 436.1703(2) is a misdemeanor. If the fake ID contains another real person's information, identity theft under MCL 445.65 is a felony.
Drug Charges
Possession of marijuana over the personal-use limit, cocaine, MDMA, psilocybin, or prescription medications not prescribed to you are felonies under MCL 333.7403. Marijuana use in public is a civil infraction under MCL 333.27954. Officers around Comerica are aware of common substances at stadium events and act accordingly.
Michigan's MCL 333.7411 first-offender drug diversion can be one of the most powerful tools for fans facing their first possession charge.
Tailgate-Specific Issues
- Detroit ordinances regulate alcohol consumption in certain areas around the stadium.
- Stadium security may search bags — that is generally allowed as a condition of entry.
- Sidewalks, alleys, and parking structures around Comerica are heavily patrolled before and after games.
- Greektown, the Foxtown district, and the area around Little Caesars Arena see additional concentration of police presence on game nights.
If You Refused the Chemical Test
Under MCL 257.625c, refusal of the chemical breath or blood test after a lawful OWI arrest triggers an automatic one-year license suspension from the Michigan Secretary of State. You have 14 days from the date of arrest to request an Implied Consent hearing. This is the most commonly missed deadline in Michigan OWI law.
What to Do After a Tigers-Game Arrest
- Note the agency that arrested you — Detroit Police, Wayne County Sheriff, or Michigan State Police.
- Preserve ticket stubs, receipts, photos, and witness contact information.
- Do not post about the incident online.
- Get a lawyer involved before your first court date.
What an Effective Defense Looks Like
OWI cases from Tigers nights typically involve highly favorable defense conditions: pre-game and post-game commercial establishment receipts that document timeline, video from stadium and street cameras, and the chaotic urban environment that affects the reliability of standardized field sobriety tests. A skilled defense attorney pursues each angle.
Plymouth Fans, Detroit Courts
Handling a 36th District Court case while living and working in Plymouth is logistically demanding — multiple court dates, evening hearings, bond reviews, and pretrial conferences all require travel into Detroit. Boria Law represents Plymouth-area Tigers fans in the 36th District Court regularly. Reach attorney Aaron J. Boria at (734) 453-7806 for a free consultation and a plan for your case.
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