Excise officers issue record 258 tickets during IU move-in weeke - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Indiana State Excise Police officers issued a record 258 citations and jailed nearly two-dozen people as a result of patrols around Indiana University Wednesday through Saturday nights.

They also sought medical treatment for four highly intoxicated people - all with BAC's in excess of .25%.

Excise police cited 177 people for illegal possession or consumption of alcohol. Nineteen minors were cited for possession of false ID, five of whom were also ticketed for being in a bar or liquor store. Nine adults were cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor and three people were arrested on drug-related charges, including possession of methamphetamine and possession of a legend drug, both felonies.

Seven people were also arrested for public intoxication. One person was jailed for resisting law enforcement and battery. Thirty-six people were also issued tickets for a variety of other offenses, including theft, false informing, trespass, public nudity and various traffic offenses.

Historically, the weekend before the start of the academic year has resulted in high numbers of arrests and tickets for alcohol offenses, but this weekend surpassed any previous Welcome Week at IU. Last year, excise officers issued 191 tickets; in 2010, they issued 138. It is also on par with Little 500 weekend last April, when a record 256 citations were issued.

Indiana State Excise Police officers, who are the enforcement division of the Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission, were working in Bloomington this weekend as part of the Intensified College Enforcement, or ICE, program launched last semester. The program aims to reduce underage access to and use of alcohol at six college campuses: Ball State, Butler, Indiana, Indiana State, Notre Dame and Purdue.

"This weekend, excise officers encountered numerous young people with dangerously high intoxication levels," Superintendent Matt Strittmatter said. "We will continue to enforce Indiana law to ensure the safety of students and local residents."

Everyone cited this weekend will appear in Monroe Circuit Court on various dates.