21 arrested during bluegrass weekend

TALKEETNA -- Alaska State Troopers made more traffic stops along a Parks Highway corridor during this year's Talkeetna Bluegrass Festival than in the same period last year, but arrested fewer people.

Troopers arrested 21 people from Aug. 7 to Aug. 10, giving special focus between Wasilla and Willow in addition to patrols north of there, said trooper spokesman Greg Wilkinson. They made 38 arrests in the same area during the four-day period in 2002.

Arrests were for driving with suspended license, 10 people; driving under the influence, four people; sixth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, three people; driving with license revoked, three people; misconduct involving weapons, one person; and outstanding warrant, one person. One of those taken into custody was charged with two crimes.

A total of 554 vehicles were pulled over in that zone last weekend, compared with 447 traffic stops a year ago, Wilkinson said.

He emphasized that not all those pulled over or arrested had attended the festival. The extra surveillance was prompted by an expected increase in traffic due in part to the festival but also to other recreational reasons on a warm, sunny weekend.

Five trooper cars from the Talkeetna unit and five from Palmer were assigned to patrol the area, the same number of vehicles as in 2002.

A total of 263 citations were issued this year, up from 203 last year. Meanwhile, arrests for driving under the influence dropped from seven in 2002.

Some people who attended the latest bluegrass festival complained of harassment by troopers, saying officers targeted traffic from the event held on private land near Mile 102 Parks Highway. Wilkinson and trooper Sgt. Rod Johnson of the Talkeetna unit both denied the allegation.

"While people are on the festival grounds, they are there for a party," Wilkinson said. "We understand that. We're not Scrooges who want to squelch anything, but once they get out on the highway they become our concern.

"If you weren't drinking and driving you didn't have anything to worry about. We don't mean to appear to be harassing, but we want to do our job."