A Lincoln official is defending officers from people who are complaining about being awakened early in the morning so they can be ticketed for violating the city’s water use restrictions.

Public safety director Tom Casady told reporters that he’s heard some complaints and wishes the officers didn’t have to be intrusive.

But he says that if a sprinkler is on in violation of the restrictions, the officer first must determine who is responsible so that the right person is given the misdemeanor citation.

Casady says it would be an inefficient use of the officer’s time if he or she had to return at a more civilized hour.