Being an avid snowmobiler and riding for several years, I still feel it is the individual snowmobile operators responsibility not to operate a snowmobile under the influence of an intoxicant or drug. Yes, the bars do tie into the trail systems but I have never observed a bar tender forcing a snowmobiler to drink. I had a very good friend die as a result of operating a snowmobile while intoxicated,further this friend was one of my deputies and I was at the crash scene the next day when he was located. I urge fellow snowmobilers to be responsible and avoid the use of intoxicants/drugs when operating their snowmobiles or for that matter any other vehicles.

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Don't like our laws, stay in Illinois. It comes down to responsibility.

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Well to start off, i am a snowmobiler. I personally don't drink when i drive. I can't say the same about everyone in my group, but no one really goes all out either.

-Justin

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i am the brother of the man rodney braunel who was in the snowmobile accedent friday night as i sat in his icu hospital room today he lay in a coma with machines helping him stay alive it angered me that he would put his family and friend through such a terrifieng experience i put the blame on him and him alone ne chose to drink and drive when thing like this happens it does't just effect the driver it effect everyone around him mike braunel

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It is the responsibility of the snowmobilers to make sure they do noit drink and compromise their driving ability

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Looking at all the response, I have to agree with most of them. It is the responsibility of the individual. It is not different then driving a car. Plus the trails are open a lot longer so far this year then the years past. I am a first responder and I have seen what drinking and driving can cause. Both on a snowmobile and in a car. Common sense is the only thing that will help !!!!

Brian

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First, anyone getting killed while snowmobiling is a tragic loss... but with that said let me just remind you that during your evening news cast you featured a story about Van Vleit getting his conditions of bail revoked because of alcohol in his system... a feature story about the big party known as "Fat Tuesday" in New Orleans (do you think there might be some alcohol involved?). Story of the final judgment on a Wisconsin River plane crash... more alcohol... Any beer at MILLER PARK? How about Packer Games? I won't even go into the Super Bowl Ads!

Renn Karl
Presque Isle, Wisconsin

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Unfortunately, the State of Wisconsin has long been known for its consumption of alcohol and along with that alcohol cunsumption, subsequent operation of motor vehicles. Alcohol does not mix with any vehicle; including snowmobiles. Being both a police officer and instructor of the responsible beverage service course, I feel that the responsibility to keep the trails and roads safe lies both with the customer and the server...Servers must be held accountable for over=service of intoxicated patrons and alcohol enforcement on snowmobiles must be stepped up to hold riders accountable.

Tim

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I am sure this will never make it in your news cast but here goes. First of all this was a tragedy that happen to this man but it would have never made the news if it wasn't a celebrity type person. I notice in wbbm news page there were three other snowmobile accidents in Illinois which they put at the bottom of their news page. People come to the northwoods to snowmobile and not everyone has the attitude to drink and drive. When you snowmobile up here there are lots of taverns and restaurants to take a pit stop to warm up and have some hot chocolate or something to eat. There are very few taverns in the northwoods that don't serve food. Your wbbm choose to make it out like the only thing people do up here is drink and drive. Why is it that it should be the bars fault if someone has too much to drink and decides to get on that snowmobile and drive like a maniac. Who would be able to know how many places they stopped before they got to next place. The driver of that snowmobile should have been the responsible one and he should have known his limits, he was a grown man. I am sure the blood alcohol level of the passenger was probably the same as the driver. He also was a grown man who should have known better. Don't tell me at their age they don't know how the effects of alcohol work. Why is it the media has it out for us in Wisconsin? If you look at the amount of snowmobilers from Illinois and Wisconsin that come to the Northwoods during this short season of snowmobiling the percentage of accidents is probably actually low. Sue Slominski Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin

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I would say that most of the time the drunk snowmobiler only kills himself. could you list on your TV show if any drunk snowmobilers killed any sober people. And I'm sure that Il. TV person that got killed last week was in deed drunk himself and in fact so drunk that he either could not start his machine or just could not drive him self home, so a buddy gives him a ride.

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Perhaps if every trail didn't lead to a bar they wouldn't be drinking as much. The same thing happens in the summer with the Harley folks. Just look at how many Harley's are parked outside the bars in the summer

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IF YOU ARE CAUGHT DRIVING A SNOWMOBILE WHILE DRUNK, THEY DESERVE A TICKET AND SOMETHING ON THEIR REGULAR LICENSE. I ALSO BELIEVE SNOWMOBILES DO NOT NEED TO GO 160 MILES AN HOUR, WHY AREN'T THEY SANCTIONED TO A 60MPH SPEEDOMETER? DRUNK IS DRUNK WHETHER IN A CAR OR ON A SNOWMOBILE AND THEY PEOPLE THAT ARE DRINKING ARE "ADULTS"? WHAT AN EXAMPLE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

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Please forward the blog comments to Channel 2 in Chicago. It is apparent from your first segment that they aren't thinking about how their men were responsible for their own actions. Don't come "up north" if you want to put the blame for your drinking on someone else. If you blame a young gal bartendar serving you drinks you ordered and you got into trouble, then stay at home with your family!

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I can't believe your coverage on this incident. The 'investigative reporter' on the air crying and looking to blame someone for the accident? Get real. The only one to blame for this accident is the dead guy and his friend that drove him to his death. The dead guy should have had enough sense to not get on a snowmobile with a guy that had been drinking (nearly three times the legal limit) and probably was drinking to the same level as his buddy, but no one will say how much. This is a tragic incident brought on by two people who could not look out for themselves and made tragically inept decisions. Therein lies the blame.

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S.R. I have read some of the responses already posted on here and I say the same laws that are imposed on getting behind the wheel when intoxicated should be imposed on snowmobiles too because they are motor vehicles and can go up to speeds to 80 miles per hour or more depending on the horsepower of the engine which would make sense if the driver of snowmobile that killed that tv reporter from Chicago is being charged and responsible for his death and the only way to change these laws is to talk to your local lawmakers to change the Wisconsin laws! February 5,2008

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Sue, Thank you for your attention to this very serious subject of drinking and driving, including snowmobiles. I feel the need to dispell the misconception that these crashes are accidents. Vehicles crash. That event may or may not have a cause. In the case of someone choosing to drink then choosing to drive it cannot be discribed as an "accident" because drinking impares the driver and becomes a cause of the crash. Please in your reporting be careful of the distinction between "accidents" and "crashes". When you lose someone by drunk driving it certainly does not feel accidental. I know from personal experience, as I have lost five family members in four different crashes, one on a snowmobile. Beth

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I don't understand why we are still talking about it. Everyone should have enough common sense to know the difference between right and wrong.

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even though the tickets for OWI on a snowmobile,ATv, Boat are nearly $700. I don't think there is enough enforcement out there to make a difference. With only one game warden per county and at least an hour to process these people there just isn't the man power to make a difference. Also I believe the sole resposibily for drinking and driving are the operators of the machines. NOT the bar tender. It's not there responsibility to kow who drives or who is the designated driver. Stiffer fines and more enforcement money and time are needed.

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I definitely agree that there needs to be tougher laws reguarding operating any motor vehicle under the influence...but, was there force used to get him on the snowmobile, or did he also have alcohol in his system. They were both guilty, if the person killed was not under the influence would he have gotten on the snowmobile?

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It's great to see so many people responding to a subject that has long been ignored by not only many people in the area but around the state as a whole. As I read responses from both "sides" of the issue, I look at the recreation of snowmobiling like this: picture hundreds of people riding motorcycles on dirt roads in the summer, traveling from bar to bar with no speed limit. When operating these at high speeds, the only things stopping you when you lose control is a tree or another bike. Add excessive alcohol, and the odds of a crash dramatically increase. Motorcycles (sports bikes in particular) are the road-equivalent to today's snowmobiles: incredible power and speed with only a helmet for protection. Just because these machines aren't on our highways and are considered "recreation" does not mean we don't need more patrolling and regulated laws to help ensure the safety of anyone who chooses to ride a snowmobile. If this means increased taxes to increase the safety of myself, my family and everyone else who frequents the trails, then I will pay it. It has been proven that by having stiffer penalties, accidents and fatalities will decrease dramatically. For the ones who oppose this and feel that paying a big fine is more than enough, try looking at the situation as a victim or the family of a victim. This has nothing to do with the "rights" of a snowmobiler or business' needs of tourism. It has everything to do with saving your life the next time you get on your sled.

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Drinking and driving is definitely an individuals responsiblity. Someone mentioned that our trail system goes from bar to bar. Did you know it is possible to go past these bars? Or if you need to stop in, they offer more than alcohol. My husband and I really enjoy trail riding, not bar hopping, so we go past most of these bars.
I do think they should connect your drivers license points to the driving on snowmobiles like Michigan and Minnesota. Maybe that would make people think twice about drinking and snowmobiling.