Excise issues 158 citations this weekend

Keeping similar numbers as previous Little 500 weekends, Indiana State Excise Police issued 158 summonses in Bloomington this weekend. The IU Police Department issued 42 citations for public intoxication and 14 for illegal possession/consumption from Thursday to Sunday. 

“We had an average Little Five week,” IUPD Lt. Craig Munroe said.
Last year, excise police issued 157 tickets to 125 people, and IUPD issued 117 tickets for 69 people.

This weekend, excise officers worked jointly with IUPD, the Bloomington Police Department, the Monroe County Sherriff’s Department and Indiana State Police.

“We were fairly busy,” Munroe said. “No major events happened. ... It’s one of the best we’ve had.”

Excise police issued 94 citations of illegal possession/ consumption/ transportation of alcohol. Seventeen citations were issued to those of legal drinking age who “furnished alcohol to a minor,” according to a press release.

Excise only issued three citations for public intoxication this weekend.

About 30 excise officers were present in Bloomington over the weekend.

“This weekend’s rain and intermittent thunderstorms did not deter our officers from enforcing Indiana law,” ISEP Officer Travis Thickstun said in the release. “Excise police conducted numerous inspections of alcoholic beverage establishments and patrolled on and near the Indiana University campus in our effort to reduce underage access to and use of alcoholic beverages.”

The department’s headquarters are located in Indianapolis, but they have regional offices throughout the state. The southernmost district offices in Seymour, Vincennes and Indianapolis, tended to the Little 500 festivities at IU. The three remaining districts assisted Purdue University for its Grand Prix.