Hi Susan:
Has anyone considered how many more people are snowmobiling this year compared to the last 5 yrs when we have had no snow to speak of. The number of fatailites is terrible. I agree that drinking and driving does not belong on the trails. However, how many of the people that are on the trails have never had any experience on snowmobiles.
Alot of the young adults can't remember the last time that a winter had so much snow and cold. More people,more problems. Welcome to a good old fashion
winter in Wisconsin.

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Points on your driver's license or confiscation of the vehicle would affect no one except the offender and may make people think about whether they want to chance drinking and snowmobiling or not. Unlike checkpoints or more goofy speed limit laws which affect even the non violators and require more enforcement dollars to be spent, the stiff penalties would only affect the violators and would act as a deterrent. The penalties should be applied to boats and atvs, too. Russ Decker is way off base on this.

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Sue,
This is the first time that I have been involved with a blog, and most likely the last.
I believe that the constant blame for all issues are always put on alchohol.
There are other aspects of accdents that are attributed to circumstances that are never brought to light. Why you should focus on this issue for several days, in my opinion is poor reporting and totally biased against any sport or recreation that involves a drink or a beer.
This snowmobile season is by far much longer that the last dozen years. There has been nearly 2.5 monthes of snow this year compared to 2 - 3 weeks in years past. Plus their are far more enthusiasts than any of the years past.
Lighten-up, the majority of people in this world still feel its acceptable to have a beer. Goodbye channel 7, hello channel 9. Pete, the guy with 35 years experience.

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It just amazes me that some people believe they can break the law and if someone does something about it, they are the bad guy. The drinking laws are strong for a good reason. When you drive drunk, you are driving a loaded weapon. Same goes for a snowmobile. I work in a Northwoods Hospital. I work a shift that sees a large percentage of the people that are carelessly injured. It's terrible to see a patient lie on a table and not be able to give them anything for pain because they've had too much to drink. The reason we don't give drunk people pain meds is they could easily stop breathing. The worst thing to see is the person that they've injured or killed. The families of both patients are put through pure hell. If our snowmobilers would learn to drink in moderation at each stop instead of making each stop a challenge to get drunk at, maybe we'd see a drop in fatalities. Our people on the trails need to start policing themselves on the trails. The problems will only be as bad as you make them.
j antigo

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When you talk about your death graph, you need to realize that snow levels have a direct effect on how many deaths show up for the year. When there is widespread snow with the trails open statewide, people will tend to ride in their home areas more and most likely ride safer. When snow is limited to smaller areas, traffic will tend to be heavy in that area and cause the potential for more accidents. Low snow years will skew your graph to look like the law change caused the drop in deaths when in fact it may have been the lack of snow that resulted in fewer people riding, which caused the drop in deaths. Did the DNR give you that graph?

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As an avid snowmobiler, I feel the laws are strict enough. The only thing I would say, is the driver's license should be suspended if the person refuses a legal blood/breath/urine test if arrested for OWI on a sled. I feel that having snowmbile patrols is a great tool. I see the guys out in Wood and Marathon Cty all the time and if I get stopped they are just doing their jobs. They treat you with respect and are friendly toward me. I cannot believe one person feels they shouldn't be out there at all. Okay, then let's go to total anarchy in the USA and take all cops off the streets, too. Then, let's see how everyone takes care of themselves. They are a deterrent, and if that saves one life, it is worth it.

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the whole reason we ride sleds was to get away from the nanny mind-set of people,part of the snowmobiles appeal was the lack of supervison. I am sick of good hearted people telling me what and how to act, if i dont hurt anyone leave me alone.if there is a wreck,do what you have to. your nanny mindset of the current media is a real problem to me, keep out of my business. paul

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sue was the person killed from illinois drinking to and did he know the driver was drinking and if he was why did he get on the sled with a drunk driver cuz now our state is under scrutny from a state where they come up here to snowmobile and use our trails scott stephens marshfield wis

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Sue
I'm a Trail Patrol Ambassador for ATV and we patrol trails althrough Wisconsin and unlike the Sheriffs we cannot site people only stop people an warn them or notify law enforcement. We are volenteers we provide assistance and first aid to riders. My wife and myself ride year round and can be ID by bright Yellow jackets on the Trails. Looking at Marathon County most of the trails are supported and funded by ATV registrations these days not snowmobils. In fact ATV are almost 3 to 1 ratio. ATV do not travel at as high of speeds as snowmobiles and this inproves your time for a reation. But when you drink you know as we all know your reation time slows to a degree you don't react. Drinking and driving any motor vehicle is a deadly combination and as much as I would like to dump this on the indivual responsibility to maintain we need tougher laws / penalties for not being responsible. A law makes you accountable for your action and traveling 30, 40, 50, 60 and 80 mile hours under the influence can take lives not only operators but the others on the trail that are being responsible or a passanger.

Robert Arnold
TPA 0375

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So if your highlight on drinking and snowmobiling is going to create and oppertunity for "lawmakers" and everyone is so anti-drinking and uncappable of PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY then whats the hold up in bowling, whos to say that an adult cant get to much at a bowling alley? or a wisconsin farmer out drinking on his personal tractor? Comon' the purpose is personal entertainment, so personal responsibility is that of us that are paying the gas bill or the taxes we have choices in life and the news anchor also made a choice, he was too out looking for a good time and it ended up tragic, quit blaming everything and everyone else.

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Sue

Your recent attention the the topic on snowmobiling and drinking is indeed an important one. Many people come from all over to central and northern wisconsin and enjoy this activity. My family would otherwise be quoted a "younger" family and many times while out on the trails enjoy a drink. However Its important for those who enjoy the activity to be responsible and respectful of the intense machine they are operating. This is the first year we have had our 5yr old out on the trails, like with any activitie there is risk, but people need to realize that many times children are amoung the trails also. I think the BAC limit for snowmobilers should be set however it should be within reason and not the same as .08 which puts nearly everyone in violation. We need to keep Wisconsin Fun and Inviting yet safe.

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I just read your story on two poeple being killed in Milwaukee during the snow storm. You didnt do an undercover investigation of driving in those conditions. The point is people make bad decisions whether driving too fast in poor conditions or letting your messed up buddy take control of your snowmobile. The decision would have been just as bad had he jumped in a car with the guy. Sad events... but nobodys fault but their own. Take responsibilty for your own actions and decisions.

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I feel it is personal responsibility. Families aren't out snowmobiling late at night, the same as you don't see mini-van's full of kids driving around after bar close. People need to make responsible decisions. If you are not comfortable driving in a snow storm, what do you do? Stay home! Every person is different, and everyone handles alcohol differently. Most of the crashes I have heard about are because people are driving outside of their ability....Car or snowmobile. Think about that. It is a very simple statement. If you don't feel comfortable riding with someone who has been drinking, what do you do? Don't ride with them. Suck it up, be called a light weight and call a cab. No one will pick on you in the morning for making it home safe.

Wausau WI

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I am the current Chairperson for the Association Of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs Safety Committee. We are a group of snowmobilers who have been elected by our peers to represent our sport to promote SAFE & RESPONSIBLE snowmobiling in Wisconsin. It clearly is a tragedy when someone loses their life on our snowmobile trails. But no one can pass laws against stupidity and poor person choice. Our group puts forth many hours of VOLUNTEER time working closely with the DNR to come up with new ways to get the message of SAFE & RESPONSIBLE RIDING across to all users of our trail system. We have worked to help initiate the 55 mile per hour nighttime speed limit; our committee proposed that the Snowmobile Safety Course be MANDATORY for anyone born on or after January 1, 1985; we work directly with the DNR to update safety course information and make it readily available to our 300+ active VOLUNTEER SAFETY INSTRUCTORS. It sounds very easy to just pass another law or inflict stronger penalties, but that still hasn't stopped the thousands of individuals arrested, injured, or killed due to drunk driving in automobiles. Laws only work on those individuals who choose to follow them. EDUCATION AT A YOUTH LEVEL is the key to reducing incidence of drunk operation of a motor vehicle, no matter what that vehicle may be. There is a group of individuals who dedicate their time and talents to teach Safe & Responsible snowmobiling. I ASK YOU: WHERE WERE YOU WHEN WE INSTRUCTED AND CERTIFIED 35 KIDS AGES 12-18 IN ATHENS 2 WEEKS AGO?? OR FOR THAT MATTER-WHEN ANY CLASSES WERE HELD?? You as the media have the potential for making a great impact on this issue- by helping pass the message: SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE RIDING.
Sincerely, Tess Barkow, Chairperson AWSC Snowmobile Safety Committee

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WOW! Channel 7 has hit a nerve- good for you! To people who say you're not going to watch Channel 7 because of this report is pretty ridiculous. That implies that other stations think drinking and driving snowmobiles is a good idea. Probably not the case. Channel 2 in Chicago simply showed us the harsh reality of what goes on in bars during snowmobile season. Not pretty - but were any of you really shocked? Just because you choose to look the other way doesn't mean it isn't happening. Haven't you ever heard of the expression, "Don't kill the messenger?"

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I feel bad for the news person who died in that snowmobile accident. But also, he was with this person all day riding, and drinking. So it is not only the drivers fault, but the rider knew how much this guy had to drink.. why did he get on the machine with him??? If you actually read about the accidents that happen in northern Wisconin, they are not local people. The mojority are from down south. My husband and I snowmobile, but we never do on weekends just for that reason. These people come from out of area, and think they can drink, drive, speed and show off. We know plenty of local people that stay off the trails on weekends just for this reason. So while everyone blames the driver for the news anchor death.. he basically committed suicide.

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I think WI can take care of its own problems, Mr Savini should think about his own states problems, I think he's got alot more to worry about than we do.

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I totally agree about Sen. Decker. Does he thinks a crew of chipmunks on a rodent exercise wheel makes a snowmobile go 100 mph?

And have any of you crying and whining about bars, taverns and restaurants losing business ever considered how many people have stopped snowmobiling and visiting these establishments because of the bad behavior by drunken snowmobilers they have to put up with to have a meal or a drink? Or have totally stopped snowmobiling and spending money up north because they are afraid of the idiots operating snowmobiles at high speeds while drunk? I can't even count the number of people I know who used to come up here and now DON'T come up here any more to spend their money. They will go to the UP, Minn. or to The Dells area instead to snowmobile. It is getting to be the same in the summer. My parents won't even go out on our boat on our lake any more because of the horrible behavior of our neighbors and the dangers they create on our lake when they are drunk.
My sister has young kids and doesn't want to come up here any longer and expose her kids to the drinking behavior. Her family used to spend a LOT of money when they came up and that is a thing of the past, thanks to the drinking that goes on around the lake. You can continue to blame everyone but the people who are drinking to excess and causing problems but it doesn't change the facts. The problem lies with the drunks - not the people who are pointing out the problems these drunks create with their lack of responsibility, common sense and consideration for other human beings. People with the attitude expressed in the comments about the Three S's aren't doing anything for our economy either...believe me. How many people do you think are turned off about coming up and spending their money here when they read things like that?

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I have been snowmobiling since 1969.People have been drinking and killing themselfs for decades. How do you legislate stupidty? You can have all kinds of unenforceable laws and people will do stupid things.

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Hi Sue,
In regards to the story on snow mobiler's and drinking. I am a bartender in Marathon County. I have heard many riders say I can drink all night they can't do anything to me, all they can do is give me a fine I don't lose my license.. I talked to the same guy a couple weeks later and he stopped at two more bars after he left me and he got lost on his way home because he didn't know where he was. I feel myself the a snow mobiler should be given a citation for drunk driving and points should be taken off your license, you should be given the same consiquences as if you where in a vehicle.