Tally of citations for Unofficial reaches 267 by Saturday
By: The News-Gazette
Saturday, March 07, 2009
URBANA – By Saturday morning, police had issued 267 citations following a night of binge drinking on Campustown.
Unofficial St. Patrick's Day began Thursday night. The 13-year-old event has morphed into a two-day drinking binge across Campustown that draws both local students and out-of-town partiers.
Police focused their street presence this year on private parties in neighboring houses and apartments.
Of the 267 citations issues by 5:45 a.m. Saturday, 103 were for public possession of alcohol and 106 were for underage drinking, according to a report.
Police said Friday night that the warm weather – with temperatures reaching 72 – prompted a busier night.
Earlier in the evening, a man in his 20s fell three stories after attempting to climb from a third floor balcony to a fourth floor balcony in the 800 block of South Fourth Street.
He was hospitalized and police are investigating the incident. His condition remains unknown.
Other Unofficial St. Patrick's Day 2008 Stories
- Champaign City Council weighs actions ahead of holiday
- Champaign mayor sets Unofficial St. Patrick's Day rules
- Officially, 'holiday' a big mess
- Professor pushes for prevention by state intervention
- Professor pushes for prevention by state intervention
- Officials warn against misbehavior; police plan to be out in force
- Officials warn against misbehavior; police plan to be out in force
- Underage drinking problem is year-round
- Chancellor calls for end to Unofficial
- Order boosts city's power over drunks
- Champaign police say Unofficial parties well under way
- Fewer problems early at Unofficial St. Patrick's celebration
- Not everyone celebrates 'alcoholiday'
- Not everyone celebrates 'alcoholiday'
- Champaign mayor orders second bar closed
- Unofficial St. Patrick's Day: Balcony accident, numerous citations
- Unofficial comes to official end as rain, fatigue start to set in
- Man who fell from balcony still in serious condition
- Merchants: Unofficial 'pretty sane this year'