[September 04, 2011] Alcohol Ban Along The American River Labor Day Weekend Tweet Sep 04, 2011 (KTXL-TV - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- SACRAMENTO COUNTY -- "It was cold at first. But as soon as you got a couple of drinks it was kind of fun." Alcohol ban or not, it wasn't hard to spot the intoxicated. Countless people stepped off of rafts at River Bend Park who were so drunk they could barely stand. Lawanda Wesley says she saw plenty of others on her maiden voyage down the river. "I felt scared for them, for their life. I think one gal was so far gone she didn't know what was going on." The American River is moving slightly faster than normal. But it's a far cry, maybe 65 % slower, than the frigid currents that triggered a rash of river rescues earlier this summer. "If you go in the water you have to have that on (pointing to a life vest); you know that?" Alcohol and life vests are the reasons Park Rangers like Randy Lewis patrol the banks of the river while police and fire departments work the water. "There's always a danger that's why we have to enforce the alcohol and the PFD rules. But the water's warming up." It's not against the law to drink on the river most weekends. But five summer's ago the State Legislature intervened after the alcohol, the fights and the rowdy behavior became a serious public health hazard. Today, alcohol is off limits during the summers' "Big 3" holiday weekends. "Yea, we've been in the water bro, it's done." Joshua Swanberg ignored the ban and blissfully cruised down the American playing a guitar; though it was wet and out of tune when FOX40's John Lobertini started asking questions. Courtney Lewis found courage in a bottle and showed up at River Ben Park with her neck draped in beads. That's a sign she flashed her bare chest to anyone with a colored plastic necklace to offer. "You know the rules, and this one was from them cause I rode the river without a top." The crowds from the summer of 2011have been smaller and more, well behaved, than those seen on weekends when there is no alcohol ban. But it's only going to be slightly cooler, temperatures still in the mid 90's on Sunday and Monday, so park rangers along with the police and fire departments patrolling the water are going to remain on high alert. The Labor Day weekend alcohol ban on the American River runs through Monday. Park fees are also going up in Sacramento County parks; expect to pay $8 for a single car and $13 for larger vehicles. ___ (c)2011 KTXL-TV (Sacramento, Calif.) Visit KTXL-TV (Sacramento, Calif.) at www.fox40.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]