Plenty of fireworks for Tahoe law enforcement

Welcome to Lake Tahoe - now behave.

With 27 arrests in one day reported between Douglas County and South Lake Tahoe, the police scanner told a holiday story of summer in the basin this past weekend.

No serious incidents were reported, but that didn't keep law enforcement from responding.

People jumped on vehicles, threw trash out their car windows, partied through the night and fought with their fists. And there were reports of people biting other people, women fighting in the street, men who were unaware of the name of the motel they were staying and a toothless hitchhiker who made obscene gestures at motorists.

One man wanted to turn himself in with warrants to get a ride to Placerville. Then, an angry woman flushed her male companion's medication down the toilet.

"We have to check everything on weekends like this," said Chris Sneed, a dispatcher for South Lake Tahoe Police.

The department reported nine arrests on Sunday.

Many calls involved disturbances and alcohol - from drunk in public to driving under the influence.

Vehicles and traffic calls - including reports of the ramming variety - made for a mix of mishaps and crimes. An auto theft was reported at Raley's at the "Y."

One motorist received a citation when he drove in the center lane to dash by the stop-and-go traffic on Emerald Bay Road. He apologized to Sgt. Steve Stroot in the hopes of avoiding the ticket. It didn't work.

Douglas County shared the wealth of calls. The sheriff's department made 18 arrests from Saturday evening to Monday morning.

"It was a busy weekend. This is all the stuff you expect relative to alcohol," Deputy Dave Tubridy said.