On Jul 7, 11:43?pm, Garrison Hilliard wrote:
200 People Busted For Alcohol-Related Offenses On The Little Miami River
Last Update: Jul 8, 2007 2:26 AM

Close to 200 people fall victim to a sweep on the Little Miami River. Officials
in Warren County were targeting alcohol-related offenses, from open containers
to underage drinking. The operation left many people drying out and forced to
pay a hefty fine.

Many people were feeling the heat, and not because of the temperature. The main
objective of this operation is not to ruin activities but to make sure the
Little Miami River can be a fun place for the whole family.

Out of sight and undercover, officers from several agencies were looking to put
a stop to a common problem. There's a little too much drinking on the Little
Miami River. Area residents living around the river complained of rude and
obnoxious behavior, enough that something had to be done.

The Sackriders, a local family, agree with Warren County officials who say
alcohol and the river don't mix. Most were upset to get ticketed, in over a few
hours authorities handed citations close to 200 people.

The violations ranged from underage drinking to littering and life jacket
violations. Some people on canoes got stopped more than once for the most
popular offense, having an open container. The goal of the crackdown is to make
sure the river is a friendly place for local families to make a splash. Dozens
of empty beer cans were picked up in the seven-hour sweep

Meanwhile, on the water Chris and Rebecca Sackrider will stick to drinking
water. There will be another similar sweep in the near future, but officials in
Warren County are not saying when.

http://www.local12.com/mostpopular/s...d=2ccdfc37-1f6...

Oh jiggers the cops are comin
Why can't they leave us alone
Keep paddlin while I'm dumpin
No beer in Ohio.

Gotta get done with it
Swallow the evidence down
Should have been done long ago
There's my whole six pack
Soaking into the ground
A case woulda been quite a blow

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, (etc)

Oh jiggers the cops are comin
Why can't they leave us alone
Keep paddlin while I'm dumpin
No beer in Ohio
No beer in Ohio
(how many more?)
No beer in Ohio
(will I have to pour?)
No beer in Ohio


There are some darn good reasons not to drink while boating. The
skipper really needs to blow zero. Passengers who become intoxicated
are more likely to wind up in the water and will be less able to
assist in their own or some other person's rescue. Studies have shown
that the marine environment tends to increase the effects of alcohol.

Still, that said, busting people for having an open can of beer
anywhere aboard a boat seems extreme. The news bit didn't imply that
all or even any of the boaters were legally intoxicated. A town big
enough to turn out 45 cops (to write a total of 200 beer-related
tickets) has to have a mayor, city council, etc. I guess we can all be
sure that when the politicians all gather for a party on the mayor's
yacht that there will be no open containers or consumption of alcohol
anywhere aboard.

Some boaters have and enforce a no-alcohol policy aboard their boats.
I'm not opposed to a guest having a beer or a glass of wine, within
moderation. As long as the operator waits until the boat is at its
final destination for the day before imbibing, the cops shouldn't be
busting beer. Public intoxication, lewd or rowdy behavior, public
urination, etc, deserve to be ticketed and should be.......but even if
it's borderline unwise a non-operating adult shouldn't be ticketed for
holding a can of beer on a boat.