As the Pork, Peanut and Pine Festival gets underway in Surry County for its 43rd year, Virginia Conservation Police will also be out on the James River patrolling a grassroots boating event.
While the festival and annual boating event are unconnected, they occur on the same summer weekend — July 21 and 22 this year — and the river cruise creates a “partylike atmosphere” resulting in many police calls for charges of assault, general intoxication and drug possession, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries said last year.
Like last year, Virginia Conservation Police and other agencies will be out in full force on and around the James River throughout the weekend of the Pork, Peanut and Pine Festival, VDGIF spokesman Lee Walker said.
Walker said the patrols will be well-coordinated and include both law enforcement and first responders.
Last year, “Operation Pork, Peanut, Pine” reeled in 12 arrests on the James River. Between 400 and 500 boats were out on the river, and more than half were inspected by Virginia Conservation Police.
Police made nine arrests for operating under the influence, two arrests for marijuana possession and one arrest for reckless boat operation. Police also issued one reckless boat operation charge and 30 summonses for boating equipment or registration violations.
WYDaily archives were used in this story.
