Undercover Report Finds Disturbing Pattern of Drinking and Snowmobiling

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Updated: 7:15 PM Feb 5, 2008

Undercover Report Finds Disturbing Pattern of Drinking and Snowmobiling

Chicago TV reporter Dave Savini and his crew traveled along a busy Northern Wisconsin snowmobile trail and stopped at numerous bars. Their hidden camera captured a callous attitude about drinking and sledding.

Posted: 6:56 PM Feb 5, 2008
Reporter: Dave Savini

Undercover Report Finds Disturbing Pattern of Drinking and Snowmobiling

WBBM's Dave Savini On Hidden Cam Investigative Report On Drinking and Snowmobiling

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WBBM TV investigative reporter Dave Savini and his crew last weekend snowmobiled along some of northern Wisconsin's busiest trails.

Using a hidden camera, they talked with patrons and bartenders who don't seem to take drunken snowmobiling too seriously.

Their research found that in a little more than 2 years, 77 people have died in Wisconsin snowmobile accidents. 45 of them involved alcohol.

Authorities also told them some taverns even use police scanners to warn patrons when they're special unit is in the area.

Attempts at changing the law to suspend or revoke the motor vehicle licenses of drunken snow mobile operators have been unsuccessful.

Critics argue the Tavern League, a lobbying organization for the bar industry which rakes in millions from snowmobilers is holding the much needed change up.

Michigan and Minnesota enacted a law tying alcohol related snowmobiling infractions to their drivers licenses and the snowmobile deaths have gone down, leaving Wisconsin with the title of the most deadly.