Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency - Region 4

The Area 42 Law Enforcement Program is comprised of six counties in East Tennessee including Loudon, Monroe, Blount, Sevier, Jefferson and Cocke.

Area 42 worked 13,589.5 hours of enforcement this past year. This time was spent checking hunters and fishermen for compliance with the law. The Area checked 9,013 hunters and fishermen. Checking these hunters and fishermen resulted in 985 citations being issued for hunting and fishing violations. Of this total, 140 were classified as big game cases involving predominantly deer. In addition, the officers in the area prosecuted 28 black bear cases. By far, the most common violation is hunting or fishing without a license.

In September 2006, Area 42 officers spent three hard days of surveillance on a site baited for black bears and equipped with a tree stand. They endured torrential downpours and eventually caught two individuals on the third day of the season that climbed up into the platform to try to kill a bear. In January of 2007 Area 42 officers conducted an undercover operation looking into the illegal selling of black bear rugs and jewelry in Sevier County. Over 50 citations were issued to merchants in the area and one taxidermist.

2006 Hunting and Fishing Citations:

Big Game	140
Small game & fishing	845


Total	985

Boating:

Area 42 personnel are responsible for boating enforcement on Tellico, Ft. Loudoun, Douglas, Cherokee, Melton Hill, Watts Bar, Chilhowee and Calderwood Reservoirs

Area 42 worked 4,004 hours of law enforcement on area reservoirs this past year. During that time, 4,411 vessels were inspected for registration and safety compliance. There were 457 citations and 176 warnings citations issued for various boating violations. The most common offense was insufficient number of personal flotation devices on board vessel, which accounts for 173 citations. Also, there were 20 arrests made for boating under the influence during the year.

Details, including working on personal watercraft, running lights and B.U.I. were conducted on all area lakes.

The major boating events in Area 42 were first, the on the water concert and fireworks show on June 30, 2007, during the holiday weekend on Ft. Loudoun Reservoir in Lenoir City, and second, an on the water fireworks show at the Pointe Marina on Douglas Reservoir in Dandridge. There were in excess of 1000 vessels attending these events. Most of the area was pulled in to help with control. There were three BUI arrests made, however there were no serious incidents. The officers in Area 42 have investigated 23 boating accidents during this year. Officers were responsible for nine boating education programs throughout the year.

Area 42 participated in a regional training day involving BUI detection and field sobriety testing in early spring. As a result there six BUI cases prosecuted during the Memorial Day weekend alone.

2006 Boating Enforcement Summary:

Citations	457
Boating under the influence	20
Warnings	176


Total	653