SAN MARCOS, TEXAS — Memorial Day Weekend at the San Marcos River signals the beginning of a busy season, and keeping Texas Game Wardens just as busy are people breaking the rules as they float down the river.
"It could be anywhere from five to 40. And sometimes, it can exceed that amount," Texas Game Warden Joann Garza-Mayberry told KVUE.
She's talking about the average number of tickets or arrests Texas Game Wardens issue on a busy day.
"We deal with a lot of underage drinking, people using illegal drugs. Unfortunately, a lot of littering out here. And we have a lot of people entering private property," she said.
These are just a few examples of the criminal activity she and other game wardens keep an eye out for as they travel up and down the river on their kayaks.
"We want to make sure that everyone has fun out here, but we want to make sure they do it in a safe manner," Garza-Mayberry said.
Eileen Brennan and her friends spent part of their Friday tubing down the river. Brennan said she understands why the game wardens do what they do.
"Even though it's safe and fun and it's in shallow water, like, with increased alcohol intake, you're going to lose some of your judgment," Brennan said.
It's the impaired judgment that can turn a fun day on the water into tragedy.
"You could fall into the water, not be able to swim, and you can drown," Garza-Mayberry said. "And we don't want any of that to happen."
Texas Game Wardens won't be the only law enforcement patrolling the river Memorial Day Weekend. Expect to find Caldwell County constables and deputies, too.