Over 1,200 citations, warnings issued over 4th of July weekend | News

UNION COUNTY, IL (KFVS) - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says their Conservation Officers made more than 1,200 citations and warnings over the Fourth of July weekend.

IDNR said officers arrested 25 boaters for operating under the influence and five more people for driving under the influence.

Along with the arrests, CPOs issued 519 citations and 776 warnings statewide while on patrol from July 1 through 4.

Citations were issued for a range of offenses including possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, underage drinking and disorderly conduct to illegal fishing and other boat safety and boating law violations.

“The hot sunny days led to thousands of boaters out on the state’s waterways this weekend”, said IDNR Conservation Police Chief Rafael Gutierrez.  “While there were a few who made poor decisions and were arrested for OUI or DUI, the majority of those we came across were enjoying the holiday responsibly and safely, which is what we want to see.”

According to IDNR, CPOs also investigated 14 boating accidents on Illinois waters during the weekend and performed routine safety inspections on over 2,000 vessels.

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