Police expect uptick in alcohol-related incidents as students pour in to Ann Arbor
The annual arrival of students always means one thing to local law enforcement agencies: more parties to break up, more minor in possession tickets to write and more alcohol-related medical transports.
As of Friday afternoon, the Ann Arbor Police Department and the University of Michigan Department of Public Safety said there haven’t been any major incidents, but there has been an uptick in drinking incidents.
On Monday, U-M police reported one operating while intoxicated ticket, but no MIP arrests or ambulance transports. Tuesday was the same, with just one OWI. On Wednesday, however, as more students streamed into Ann Arbor, there was one alcohol-related ambulance request and two minor in possession tickets. The incidents kept rising on Thursday, when five MIP tickets were issued and there were five ambulance requests.
“It will be heightened activity for two or three weeks,” said Diane Brown, spokeswoman for U-M police, adding that an uptick of MIPs and emergency alcohol transports is “very typical this time of year.”
Brown pointed out that most student housing is off-campus, in the Ann Arbor Police Department’s jurisdiction.
The AAPD made five MIP and four open intoxicant arrests Thursday, said Lt. Renee Bush who added it was a slow night.
Ann Arbor police do think foot traffic will be up in the coming days, however. Bush said it was possible the number of alcohol-related arrests could spike.
“We’re hoping people will be in compliance,” she said.
Brown said this is the first time away from home for some students think binge drinking is a rite of passage. She added there never seems to be any moderate drinking going on. Students seem to either not drink at all, or they become extremely intoxicated, she said. For the past three years, U-M has made incoming freshman take an online seminar that educates them on behavior relating to alcohol and sexual assaults, which Brown said often go hand in hand on the campus.
In addition to raising awareness, U-M police are putting more feet on the ground in the coming days.
“We usually have additional officers … to have increased visibility,” Brown said.
AnnArbor.com staff reporter Kyle Feldscher contributed to this report.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
brian
Sun, Sep 2, 2012 : 4:47 a.m.
Your kidding me, no way. Not in Ann Arbor.
Ann English
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 10:56 p.m.
I think it was at Meijer stores last week that I noticed postings saying that providing alcohol to minors is against the law. If cardiologist Rob Steele wins election to the UM Board of Regents, he's sure to look at this problem straight on.
Mike
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 9:38 p.m.
Gotta hand it to the police, they may be on to something.............
julieswhimsies
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 9:07 p.m.
um. Well. YEAH!
Jack Campbell
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 7:54 p.m.
Part hard & party responsibly can go hand in hand!
Kk Ichikawa
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 6:23 p.m.
One would hope for an "uptick" when there is an increase in the number of officers and their enforcement is focused. Also, OWI is not just a "ticket."
Dutch Thomas
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 4:12 p.m.
and they are counting their profits from this age discrimination prohibition...why are we the only NON-Islamic country with alcohol prohibition for adults of a certain age? Because it increases state power and is profitable.
Dutch Thomas
Sun, Sep 2, 2012 : 3:43 p.m.
prohibition does not work, Never has never will. The profit now devolves to the police and courts rather than the general fund. The increase in police presence to handle the "influx" of crafted "Crime" is what increases state power beyond any reasonable scope of government. Nice sheep like answers though ya'll need to develop some critical thinking skills.
julieswhimsies
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 9:11 p.m.
It would make more sense to legalize marijuana, and tax it, and raise the age of alcohol use to 23. Alcohol is dangerous to others, physically addictive, and a health hazard.
Tyler
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 8:12 p.m.
disagree. states would see more money in the form of tax from alcohol sales if they were to lower the age.
racerx
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 2:16 p.m.
News? What is this beginners journalism?
average joe
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 1:58 p.m.
Just an "uptick"?
julieswhimsies
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 9:13 p.m.
Really @average joe! More like an onslaught!
arborani
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
I'm thinking a tad.
SalineBob
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 2:12 p.m.
Probably a smidgen more than an uptick.
xmo
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.
Looks like Student hunting season iis open!
jns131
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 4:57 p.m.
They just finished rebuilding a frat. Bet that place will be hoping soon.
WalkingJoe
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.
I think it would be a news story if the police expected no increase in drinking related calls when the students return. Come on this isn't anything new.
Mich Res and Alum
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 12:14 p.m.
Police Expect Sun to Rise in East, Set in West.
Brad
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.
File under "a keen grasp of the obvious".
trespass
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 10:34 a.m.
Dan Horning is once again running to be elected to the Board of Regents. He was a Regent from 1995 to 2002. While he was a Regent and after the death of a freshman student in a fall from the sixth floor of her dormitory the Regents discussed underage drinking; Horning's comments "The majority of students who come to the University have reached the age of 18 and should be mature enough to make their own conscious decisions" "I'm not condoning police security for crashing parties. Drinking is the responsibility of the students" Horning said. The University administration and local law enforcement agencies don't really make much effort to stop underage drinking, despite that fact that underage drinking is a factor in most "date rape" incidents on campus.It is rare to see a fraternity party or a student house party where the host is charged with serving alcohol to minors. When was the last time a fraternity house lost its UM accreditation for serving alcohol to minors? Unfortunately, Dan Horning's comments are an insight into the lip service that the Regents really give to the problem of underage drinking.
Dutch Thomas
Sun, Sep 2, 2012 : 3:47 p.m.
which is a more nuanced and reasonable response to a horrid law. MIP is PROHIBITION redux for "youth" when is youth....youngsters down to the age of 6 have been charged with a host of crimes as an adult. One can join the military at 17, be drafted at 18 and dead at 19 and never even be allowed the choice of a beverage? BIZZARO LAND arising.
Tyler
Sat, Sep 1, 2012 : 8:14 p.m.
agreed. straight from the mouth of a former UM housing worker: "The U of M sees the college experience as one that ought to emphasize learning. They see the drinking and partying as a learning experience. Housing staff was often told to look the other way when known minors were observed drinking or to assist in getting them back to their living quarters."