State Commission To Request Alcohol Ban On Illinois River

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) The Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission will ask the attorney general's office to approve rules that, if adopted, would limit alcohol consumption along portions of the Illinois

Friday, December 22nd 2006, 8:13 am

By: News On 6

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) The Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission will ask the attorney general's office to approve rules that, if adopted, would limit alcohol consumption along portions of the Illinois River and ban it altogether in some areas.

There have been complaints that alcohol use has led to littering, rowdiness and vandalism at some spots.

The agency voted 6-3 for the rules including a ban on alcohol on the Flint Creek access on the U.S. 412 bridge. The area includes Echota Landing, No Head Hollow, Round Hollow and Todd Landing, said Ed Fite, commission administrator.

Under the proposal, floaters would be restricted to one 48-quart ice chest per vessel throughout the entire system, Fite said.

``It's a very controversial issue,'' Fite said. ``There's been a lot of brouhaha.''

Alcohol use on the river surfaced during the Memorial Day weekend when river officials said floaters were out of control. Problems included litter, rowdiness, disturbing other river users, vandalism and safety hazards on the water and local roads.

During the Memorial Day period and the following two weekends, rangers issued 144 citations, of which 94 were alcohol-related, Fite said.

If Attorney General Drew Edmondson's office approves of the rules, commissioners will have a final review in January, Fite said. After that, there will be public hearings to discuss the rules.

If all goes according to plan, the Legislature and Gov. Brad Henry will review the proposed rules in March. The rules become permanent with Henry's signature.

The commissioners also voted to ask the Legislature to approve an additional 10 seasonal rangers for 2007. Fite said the rangers would work about 20 hours a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Commissioners will make a special request and ask legislators to approve $50,000 to be used starting in May, Fite said. This summer, nine rangers were charged with enforcing rules on 100 miles of water. Additional rules are useless if no one can enforce them, Fite said.

It is important that the money is approved because the commission does not get any funds from citations they write, Fite said. That money goes to other areas including the judge's retirement fund.

Fite said the commission also will ask lawmakers for permission to sell $10 or $15 permits so private boaters can use the waterway throughout the year.