River rescues have kept emergency responders busy this spring and summer.
Tight budgets have made those rescues more difficult for the Illinois Conservation Police..
But a new law taking effect next week may shore up that department.
Like every group in Illinois, the State's Conservation Police has been subject to budget cuts.
Cuts that have left the agency with less staff and broken equipment.
Potentially leaving gaps in the police force's patrols.
"I haven't so far this year, I've been around the Quad-Cities quite a bit and I haven't seem them yet, but I'm sure they're out there somewhere," says John Ward of Port Byron.
He's concerned about the lack of visibility.
"In some ways it does yes, a lot of boats out on the river, it'd be nice to see their presence."
The state is trying to ease Ward's concerns by creating a special conservation police fund. Starting July first, any ticket issued by a conservation officer will have a surcharge added to it. The fee varies depending on which county the ticket is written in. But the state says the extra money will go to new equipment, or new recruits.
"I love to fish, and I get my daughter to come down here sometimes and we both love to fish," says Moline's Bill Cutkomp.
He saw officers conducting boat patrols and checking fishing licenses two weeks ago.
They're also responsible for enforcing hunting laws.
And Cutkomp says he has no issue with lawbreakers paying extra money.
"I don't want to get a ticket but if they give it to me, yeah I'll pay it, it helps support them and they do good work."
Work enforcing Illinois conservation laws that could get a boost.
The Rock Island County Circuit Clerk processed 130 conservation tickets last year.
Going forward, the county will charge 15 bucks per ticket; potentially giving that conservation fund two-thousand dollars a year.
