Montana

Authorities say Testicle Festival DUIs are a recurring problem

Posted: Aug 6, 2012 7:09 PM by Irina Cates - MTN News

CLINTON - The Testicle Festival is an annual event at Rock Creek Lodge and law enforcement say they have little control over the party since it's on private property.

"It's a big party, so we always have a heightened concern about drinking and driving," said Jason Johnson, Missoula County Sheriff's Office public information officer.

Johnson says the people they've stopped for drunken driving in the Rock Creek area during the Testy Fest are usually leaving the party. So every year, the sheriff's office teams up with the Montana Highway Patrol to put extra officers in the Rock Creek area.

He said the funding for those extra patrols comes from Selective Traffic Enforcement Program grants.

Testicle Fest is on private property and organizers hire their own security, so law enforcement have little control over what happens there.

"We don't have any right to shut them down," Johnson said. He said it's the property owner's right to have parties and events, and in this case, police have to take on a more 'reactive' role.

Every year, law enforcement have run-ins with drunken drivers leaving the festival, but MHP says DUIs have decreased dramatically over the last few years.

We left a message for the Testicle Festival organizers and we're waiting to hear from them.