Police Crack Down On Brews, Canoes

POSTED: 12:11 pm EDT July 10, 2007
UPDATED: 1:50 pm EDT July 10, 2007


LEBANON, Ohio -- Officials in southwest Ohio are cracking down on
drinking and rowdy behavior by boaters on the Little Miami River.

The Warren County prosecutor's office and officers from several
agencies combined to issue 189 citations last weekend near Caesar
Creek, about 30 miles south of Dayton.

"It ought to be a nice, family sporting event," said Prosecutor Rachel
Hutzel. "It's turned into a drunken party."


Hutzel said the sweep, which involved more than 40 police officers
manning six checkpoints on the river, was the result of numerous
complaints.

The majority of citations -- 147 of them - rapped boaters for having
open containers of alcohol, and 22 were for underage consumption or
possession, she said.

A few citations were written for littering or trespassing, and three
people were found to have outstanding warrants for their arrest,
Hutzel said.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and nine other agencies
joined in the weekend program.

At Morgan's Canoe Livery, signs are posted warning that alcoholic
drinks are illegal.

Large groups are required to sign waivers agreeing to warn members of
their party against drinking on the river, and some carry-on
containers are inspected.

"Some people are bound and determined to drink. (and) it's kind of
hard to stop them," said employee Mary Ash. "They sneak it in their
coolers."

http://www.wlwt.com/news/13654177/detail.html