Far fewer DUI's in Illinois state parks this Labor Day weekend

SPRINGFIELD --A wet Labor Day weekend contributed to fewer drunken driving arrests in Illinois state parks this year.

Conservation police from the Department of Natural Resources arrested 14 people for operating water craft under the influence and 13 for driving under the influence on roads in and around parks.

That compares to 42 arrests made during the same weekend last year. Officials say fewer people ventured out because of weekend thunderstorms.

The special enforcement deal was financed with a $150,000 state grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation's division of traffic safety.

There have been 25 boating-related fatalities on Illinois waterways so far in the year that ends Sept. 30. That's 12 more than the previous year.