76% Increase in Citations at 'Unofficial' St Patrick's Day Party in Illinois

DUI arrests and criminal charges up during this year's University of Illinois two day binge-fest.

For thirteen years, students at the University of Illinois have celebrated a pre-St. Patrick’s Day party known simply as the 'Unofficial'. This year's two day drinking oriented event resulted 351 citations, a 76% increase, being issued for offenses including underage drinking, drug possession, criminal damage and driving under the influence in Illinois.

The drinking free-for-all draws UI students and alumni, as well as out-of-towners. Partiers have been known to line up at campus bars before 8:00 am, organize private parties and try to take alcohol to classes. Those cited by the police included students from 52 colleges and 2 high schools from twelve states. About one third of the total violations issued were given to University of Illinois students.

Law enforcement for the even was comprised of Illinois State Police, the County Sheriff’s Department, local police departments from the towns of Champaign and Urbana, university police and the Liquor Control Commission. Officers were informed that there would be no days off and the must be prepared to work overtime.

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