Wow, I had no idea that this was going on every year. I guess it’s just not part of my milieu. Check out the recent enforcement report for this year’s LAKE GEORGE LOG BAY DAY that happened on July 28, 2008, the emphasis is mine:
NYSDEC Environmental Conservation Officer Lt. Tom Caifa, assigned to the Lake George Park (LGPC) Commission Marine Patrol, reports that there were 26 law enforcement officers on 15 vessels patrolling the Log Bay Day event. The vessels included four DEC Environmental Conservation Police personal watercraft.
Breakdown of Law Enforcement Personnel on the water
- 10 LGPC Marine Patrol – 8 officers & 2 sergeants
- 10 DEC Environmental Conservation Officers, 6 officers, 2 Lieutenants, and 2 Investigators
- 4 Warren County Sheriff Deputies
- 2 NY State Troopers
It is estimated that approximately 1200 people on 300 to 400 vessels participated in the event.
A total of 23 violations including 2 for reckless operations and 5 for boating while intoxicated, the remainder dealt with navigation law. The patrols also rendered first aid to 6 people, investigated 2 boating accidents, assisted 4 disabled vessels, dealt with 6 fights and participated in one rescue involving a near drowning.
NYSDEC Forest Ranger Lt. John Solan reports that 16 DEC forest rangers, including two Forest Ranger Lieutenants patrolled the state lands along the entire Shelving Rock shoreline, focusing on a 5 acre strip along Log Bay. DEC forest rangers also assisted Washington County Sheriff Deputies with a motor vehicle checkpoint at the intersection of Sly Pond and Shelving Rock Roads.
It is estimated that 275 cars, carrying approximately 1000 people, entered the Shelving Rock area throughout the day.
Forest rangers issued 30 tickets for various offenses including underage possession of alcohol, unlawful possession of marijuana, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and fighting on state land. Forest rangers made two arrests for driving while intoxicated.
Forest Rangers and local emergency response teams also rescued two individuals that were injured when they fell from the Shelving Rock Falls. Dorleen Weslang, 20, of Lake George and a 16 year old male from Lake George were both carried to the top of the falls and then transported by ATVs to ambulances on the Shelving Rock Road. Both were determined to have been drinking at the time of their fall.
Washington County Sheriffs Deputies issued 38 traffic tickets at the road check. Deputies also made 2 arrests for unlawful possession of marijuana and 4 arrests for driving while intoxicated.
Washington County Emergency Services, West Fort Ann Volunteer Fire Department, Fort Ann Emergency Medical Services, Bay Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, and Bay Ridge Emergency Medical Services participated in efforts in the Shelving Rock area.
Now, I’m all for having a good time, but this seems a little excessive. Is there economic impact surrounding this event? Is everyone over 21? Only 5 violations related to boating while intoxicated? What’s the cost of providing all the law enforcement and fire/rescue coverage?
To bad they didn’t film a Cops episode.
I’d guess somewhere around half the people there are underage. Do a search on any image hosting site or google images for “log bay day.” There are some vacationers there, but it’s mostly (relatively) locals…highschool and college kids. It’s like a day of spring break…in the summer.
Thats a huge event. I guess where there is a high concentration of people there will be naught people hence all the law enforcement.
Not only what is the cost of providing the law enforcement etc. but who actually pays for it? Not the people who are involved in the event I’d suggest!
I’d assume that the people that got tickets and got arrested would be paying for the law enforcement. Do you think the fines and tickets that these people got were cheap?
I didn’t know ‘fighting on state land’ was a specific offense.
Of course, I can’t wait to hear about this year’s episode. Too bad they didn’t bring those Today Show Tools there for a real Lake George experience.
Ann Curry actually claimed Lake George was “serenity”.