It makes great sense to me to suspend or revoke the driving license of drunken snowmobile operators, like they did in Michigan and Minnesota. This has made a measurable difference in these states - snowmobile deaths are down.

And while you're at it, tell elected officials to crack down on bartenders and establishments that overserve, promote excessive drinking with promotions, and generally line their pockets at the expense of others' lives. I know taverns are an important revenue and tax base in Wisconsin, but pushing alcohol is out of balance with good sense, proven facts and community responsibility.

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Well that reporting from Dave Savini was pretty shotty. What a misleading story. Does he know how to report anything right? Sorry you get no sympathy from me up north. Nobody put a gun to Randy's head to drink. He was stupid and irresponsible and now his family and friends has that memory to live by.

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Everyone has a free will and should use it properly by not drinking and driving or riding on a snowmobile driven by a driver that is drunk. To put the blame on the tavern owners or the local communities is very unfair. Everyone of us has brain and should be using it to make intellegent decisions. We are also responsible for our own actions and not be blaming other for our bad choices. Snowmobile manufacturers make snowmobiles that go over a hundred miles per hour but if we don't use good judgement when drive that snowmobile it is not the manufacturers fault. People need to take responsiblity for their actions and not blame someone else for their poor choices.
Dennis

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I would like to comment on the snowmobile / alcohol story.
First I would like to say that it is a Tragedy anytime someone gets killed doing something they love. A few years ago I lost a cousin killed on a snowmobile when he collided with a young man that was drunk while driving a pick-up truck at night doing donuts on a northern Wisconsin lake. He couldn't see the truck due to all the snow dust that the truck creating and collided with the truck and died.
I have been a snowmobiler since the early 70's. My family also loves the sport and enjoy getting out on a beautiful winters day or night. I have noticed in our area that many of the people driving a snowmobile that were drinking and driving fast and somewhat recklessly are mostly (not all) from out of our area. Unfortunately a great majority of them are not familiar with the trails and do drive dangerously. The areas that were observed for the news story that channel 7 televised are very heavily flooded with people from southern Wisconsin and Illinois. Alot of times I fell these people think they are away from the big city life and they think they can kick back and let it rip! Don't get me wrong, there are alot of people that come up to enjoy the northwoods that are not that way!
It's great to have fun, but everyone that drives (anything) has a responsibility to themselves, their friends and family members to be safe and smart. Life's too short to not enjoy the whole plan!
As for myself, I do enjoy to go and have a couple of drinks with my friends while snowmobiling. I wouldn't be honest if I said I didn't! However I feel that I am a responsible person / snowmobiler and don't allow it to get out of hand.
I feel that it is up to the individual to be responsible......and wake up to enjoy another day.

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I think it's up to the individual to know when to stop drinking, but i also think the bartender should be watching for signs, and know when to cut that person off.

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I can relate to the people at WBBM in Chicago trying to find out what had happened to their friend and co worker. I, myself had a friend and co worker who died last year in a snowmobile accident in Oneida County. He drove there for pool league and he didn't leave until around bar time. He was 25 years old. Watching this series brings me back to what happened a year ago. If tavern and bar owners are complaining what stricter laws will do to their business? Would you rather have your customers die in a accident you contributed to? I say sell more food and have more non alcoholic beverage choices. People impaired on snowmobiles should have the same penalties as those who drive vehicles. Bartenders should also be held responsible for over serving patrons. If there is a question, have the customer breath into a machine. If he/she doesn't pass the test they don't get served alcohol. Another idea is make snowmobilers leave their key behind the bar. If there is a question whether they are impaired, keep the key and call for a safe ride home. Darin - Mosinee, WI

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I was a warden for 31 years and as such had a great deal of experience in snowmobile law enforcement. When it came to OWI enforcement, the most effective and safest way to enforce the OWI law was the use of checkpoint stops. When we first sarted doing this, we did it on 3 or 4 weekends (Friday and Saturday nights) in a row in Vilas and Oneida counties. We started at 11:00 pm to target intoxicated drivers and avoid family groups. As I recall, we probably issued 50-60 OWI citations during this time period. I felt that at that time well over 80 % of the drivers we contacted at the time were under the influence. The Wisconsin Tavern League promptly lobbied the Legislature and as a result check point stops were made illegal in Wisconsin. If Wisconsin is serious about addressing this problem, it must allow law enforcement to effectively address it and restore the most effective tool it has - the check point stop.

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Drinking and snowmobiling absolutely should not be allowed and strictly enforced. It's a shame some people can be so ignorant ! Probably the same people that drink and drive their vehicles. Seems like every social activity these days is revolved around alchohol.

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ohh cool. ya im sure it is the bar owners reason that snowmobilers get drunk and drive. people open bars to run business.
ITS CALLED THE ECONOMY! Grow up.
if people are old enough to drink, and to drive, its their responsibility to manage their drinking amount. and im sure its legal and cool and surely mature of you to take a hidden camera in to see this.
if your that interested in this issue, set up an interview with the bartender himself, not hidden camera's. this is america right?
dont we have rights and responsibilities?
haha im glad we've stooped so low as to take hidden camera's into places to get our reports.
thanks.

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The loss is tragic but why wasn't Randy driving if he was sober. Everything is being said about how drunk the driver was but what was the passenger sober?

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Yes minn. & mich. deaths went down but how were the snow conditions during this time period. When there are bad snow years the deaths go down and when one ara has the snow the deaths go up in that area because of the number of snowmobiliers in those areas. In low snow years the number of drowings go up because of people riding on lakes & rivers. The northwoods will always be high because of the number of hotels available in the area compared to mass mich. or northern minn. Every one always wants to blame someone else; maufacturers, bars, bartenders etc. but I have never seen a gun held to any ones head & forced them to drink or speed on the trails. I would like to see a sled do 160mph, 100mph is common but that is easily matched by any sports car. Most important thing is that stupidity cannot be regulated. As a snowmobile safety instructor we constantly stress this to the students that speed is for the race tracks & to save the party for after the ride not during the ride & don't be afraid to get after their parents or other adults for drinking & operating.

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I think you need to quit talking about these accidents. my freind die last year in a freak accident 2-15-07

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Any driver who operates a motorized vehicle has to drive responsibly. Boats, ATV's, auto's, lawnmowers, and snowmobiles. A bar or tavern offers what? A social gathering point, a rest stop with food and beverage. It seems alot of tavern's have a limited menu for non-alcoholic beverages. What's wrong with drinking water, coffee, hot cocoa, and other juices with no alcohol. The taverns have to offer it!!! Very simple solution; Don't drink alcohol when driving a snowmobile. Park it for the day or night and then drink their alcohol.

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Susan, both my husband and myself agree with you completely that there should be more stringent laws in Wisconsin for snowmobilers. Speed and alcohol are way to large a percentage in the causes for accidents/deaths. I am embarrassed that Wisconsin is behind both Minnesota and Michigan in passing laws to try and control these issues. Yes, it is first and foremost the responsibility of the rider, but from what I have seen it is also a lack of responsibility by some bartenders also. It is more than obvious that Madison needs to address this issue and soon. Thank you for the opportunity to voice my opinion. J. Farrell, St. Germain

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It is up to the rider of the sled to police himself/herself when it comes to drinking and riding. Your piece with Savini shows to me that you are trying to hurt tourism in the Northwoods. Where are the pieces on the other deaths and there names.

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I am an avid snowmobiler, ATV enthusiast, etc., so I feel I must respond. I feel it is the responsibility of the operator to conduct himself in the proper manner. Our motor vehicles can achieve speeds well over the posted speed limit, that doesn't mean we operate at those speeds. The speed capabilities of snowmobiles have nothing to do with the deaths, it is personal responsibility and choices we make that affect the outcome. We should look at the death statistics for motorcyles, motor vehicles, boating, ATVs, etc, before we single out the snowmobiling community.

Jonathan Rief
Medford, WI.

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Sue...I grew up in the Northwoods and drinking goes with almost anything...too bad. I have learned to have fun without drinking. A drunk snomobiler should face the same penalties as a person on the highway. At the very least the fines should be equal and jail time should be included! Also, I believe that taverns should be more responsible. A lot of other states I have been in cut the customer off and do not allow the bartender to drink!!!!I hope the state steps up and introduces some stricter laws and make the drivers of all vehicles more responsible for their actions! LML--Merrill---

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Dear Sue,
I think it is up to the driver of the snowmobile to realize when they have had to much. People from all over the midwest come to the north woods for a wknd get away and a snowmobile trail is like a 2 lane highway I feel sorry for the Solareno family.When it comes to drinking and driving everyone's responsible. I feel that the Bartender is most responsible because they take course's to know when not to serve anymore.Is it ok to have snowmobile trails with taverns on them?There is more to see then just taverns. We Have a lot to offer in the North woods not just a tavern's we have the Natural beauty of Wisconsin.
David

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My opinion is that the snowmobiler makes the choice and it is her or his responsibility to drink alcohol. I snowmobiled when I was younger and when we stopped at a bar to get warm I ordered a coke or other soft drink. The bartender will serve you what you ask for. If Randy Salerno was not drunk he should have been driving the snowmobile and if the other fellow would not let him drive he should not have gotten on the snowmobile. Each takes the responsibility for themselves. Also it seems to me these Illinois people are complaining the most are the ones doing the drinking and driving of snowmobiles here in Wisconsin. The Illinois people also do not have to drink alcohol when they go into a bar but I bet they do. Order food and take your time eating it and drinking a coke until you are warm and get back on the trail. It should also be the friends or club members who watch out for their friends and members and if they are drunk they should not let them drive. I snowmobiled in 20 below zero weather and if we thought someone could not make it we stopped at a bar and called a cab. Same could be done if you thought your friend was too drunk to drive.

Ilene

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The death of this tv personality is a shame, but to use hidden cammera's to out cast the bar owners and thier employee's for a decision he made to get on that sled is wrong. Every person is responsible for there own actions. It's not a bartenders job to babysit.
tom