Why does it take the the death of a BIG city media personalty to get all this attention? How experienced was the driver on a sled ? Like in all things in life a man has to know his limts .Wether it be riding or drinking or both . This is the best year in many that the trails are this good so of course there will be more sleds the trails so 15 deaths maybe high but how long has it been since the trails have been open this long ? No snow = no sleds , no income for bars, gas stations , motels ............ect.
MIKE , Antigo

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I think driving a snowmobile and drinking should be a personal responsibility.However,we can't get people who drive a two ton vehicle and drink to be responsible enough to call a cab.Bars should not be allowed to keep serving people on snowmobiles drinks when it is obvious that the riders are getting intoxicated.Maybe the laws should be changed to hold them and their employees responsible.Someone has to be.While poker runs raise money,why are they only from bar to bar?Maybe drinks should be limited.Or designate a driver for the snowmobile as well.I hate to see lives lost in such a tragic way when all someone has to do is be smart enough to take the keys away.Thanks for bringing up a very important topic! Laura Miller,Wausau

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Responsiblity starts with the indidividual...period. If you choose to be an irresponsible snowmobiler, then STAY OFF THE TRAILS! Those of us who are responsible and respectful snowmobilers want to continue to enjoy the sport when we have the snow to do so. If you choose to make poor choices and sit in a bar all day, get a ride home. If you choose not to do that, then no one can feel sorry for you when they are picking you up in a body bag.

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Sue, I saw the blog responses you decided to air on your Wed 6:00 show. C'mon Sue your blog response ratio is at least 75% against your report! You aired two responces that supported your cause - Is this what you call "selective reporting"? This report is a perfect example of the general public being blinded by the media! They only come to know what you want them to. I think it's sad! Good people are being marked by this report.

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Ya know this is nuts. Regulate, regulate, regulate! Make laws, laws, laws. That's all that the minority of people want to see nowadays, not make people stand up and take responsibility for their actions! What was this reporters B.A.C. level? I bet he wasn't sober, just like his buddy whom HE jumped on the back of a snowmobile with. I don't remember hearing that Salerno was drug into a tree and killed I heard that the sled hit the tree so that tells me HE KNOWINGLY got on the back of a sled with somebody HE KNOWS to have been drinking and the rest of the world shall now pay the price! If they would have survived that night with no consequences I bet they would have been talking about what a night it was, not how stupid was that. A tragedy as it is, and my sympathies to his family, he died because of a lack of sound judgement. Having more laws on the books will not change that. If I step out into the path of a moving vehicle and get hurt or killed should there be a law drafted that all vehicles, no matter where or how fast they are going, must slow to a crawl or stop and allow the person to cross or do whatever so as not to have a tragedy happen? Or was I just stupid and showed a lack of good judgement? If there needs to be more laws on the snowmobile trails, then there needs to be more laws for the roadways. Many people every day jump in their cars with under inflated tires and that decreases the control you have over your vehicle and there is one heck of alot more people that could get injured or worse on the road than on a snowmobile trail. Stop the stupidity all the way around! Get back to exercising common sense and sound judgement, then stand up and suffer the consequences should you screw up. Whatever that may be.

Ray

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I realize there is a problem with the drunk driving with any vehicle, but each person is responsible for there actions. This also includes the person that has decided to be a passenger with someone who has been drinking. I have'nt heard whether the man from IL was drinking or not, but even if he wasn't he made a choice to get on that snowmobile, I don't think the driver forced him. It's not just on snowmobiles, it's cars too. If they new the person was drinking they maybe should have made a different choice. As far as the driver of the snowmobile yes give him a citation for owi. Passengers have to have some responsibility too.

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Sue; My husband and I have been snowmobiling for over 30 years, my husband has 60,000 miles on sleds we do not drink and ride and we have never been in any accidents, we have seen some accidents.. This is one of the best snowmobile seasons we have had in years, trails are open all over the state I am surprised that there is only 15 deaths.. is'nt the record close to 30? How many sleds are registered in WI? Hundreds of thousands? I am also wondering what the Chicago news person that was killed what his blood alchol level was? I have never heard.. Was he too drunk to drive his own sled? Judgement was poor to climb on behind someone else who was drunk..My opinion, if you drive drunk, get caught and it's not going to affect your driving record make it hurt.. First offense $2500.00 fine...

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Why do we find it so necessary to try to find blame from outside influences when individuals make poor choices. Randy's death is tragic, however, he made the choice to drink and drive. He also made the choice to get on the back of a snowmobile knowing the driver was drunk. He is know less to blame for the accident than Scott. At anytime during the night either one of them could have taken a safe ride home. We all need to wake up and take and except responsibility for our own actions instead of blaming someone or something else.

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Good morning Sue, how about a change of scenery... the fun loving guys fly to Hawaii, partake of the Happy Hour beverages served from the grass shack at poolside,have several too many, but decide to go surfing anyway,,, ahhh,,, one drowns,,, will the locals see a hidden camera report on the way the resort didn't protect their visitors from the perils of too much alcohol,,, it still boils down to self control. Keep up the good work! L.Reader Harshaw

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as we work our way through the negative representation of the snowmobile comunnity this week. There is no doubt that a problem exists with drinking and driving wether it involves snowmobiles,motorcycle or any other form of motorized transportation. At this point snowmobiles are recieving more than there fair share of blame. I believe that you should take look at some of the positive affects the vast majority of snowmobilers have on the wausau area. Head line events like the 525 race that raise money for local charities. also less publicized activities like this weekends Jerry Wunch Circle of Friends. The Trailmates snowmobile club will be hosting 2 bus loads of children with cancer. we will be giving rides on our snowmobiles.There will be a puppet show.The balloon animal fun man and With the cold weather hot chocolate and chili.this all takes place at the Trailmates club shed saturday Febraury 9 2008. The article you did on Chad Laffin's death was very good although his loss still hurts any one who knew him.
Allan Zahrt

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The way this topic was broadcast on tv makes it look like all snowmobilers ride from tavern to tavern just to drink. Once again people dont take responsibility for their actions. Any time things happen to well known people that screw up, other people want new laws!! It is tragic what happened to Randy Salerno but he was with the guy he was rideing with all day and knew he was drinking!! Every day people makes choises. That day Randy and his buddies made the wrong choise!! Do not blame the rest of the snowmobilers because of a few. We dont need new laws we need people to take responsibility for their actions!!! I have snowmobiled 34 years I love the sport. Jon Wicke Minocqua Wi

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Sue,

E. Wadzinski

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Sue,
The investgative reporting from Channel 7 on the matter of snowmobiling clearly shows your organization as a being a leader.
Our legislative leaders must step up to the plate and take serious action to stop the speed and alcohol craze that is responsible for numerous accidents and deaths while operating snowmobles. The 55 speed limit must be lowered regardless of pressure from lobbying groups.The penalty for operating while intoxicated must be severe.The penalty should be linked to drivers licenses.Currently the penalty does not deter drunken snowmobile operation.

Pete Cody
Rhinelander

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Sue
The Media is supposed to be unbiased. Your reports on snowmobiling are not unbiased. If you want to campaign for tougher snowmobiling laws you should run for Public Office.

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Instead of a trail map given to Savini,they should have given him a copy of Wisconsin Snowmobile Laws booklet.It clearly states on the back...Slow Down...Ride Sober...and Ride for Life.
Responsibility and accountability lies with the choices the operator of each sled makes.It's unfortunate some ignore their responsibilties and over indulge.They are the ones who have or cause fatalities and should be held accountable.
It seems wbbm is looking for someone to blame for the accident other than the driver who was over the alcohol limit almost 3 times the allowed limit.Put resposibility where it belongs on the driver who had no business driving in that condition.

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What I'm getting out of all this is there is some news people from Illinois reporting on Illinois people getting drunk and killing themselves in wisconsin and it's all wisconsins fault? After seeing these reports I think all Illinois people are drunk idiots ruining the sport of snowmobiling for everyone in wisconsin. I wonder how people from illinois feel about all this?
If this same scenario would have played out in northern illinois instead of northern wisconsin, it probably wouldn't have even made last page news with all the rapings muggings stabbings and murders down there.

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Sue,
My brother is ahead of the rock county snowmobile chapter, and that this county here is the only on covering this accident guess you are trying to help hinder the conviction if there even is one. Leave well enough along. Let our loved one's we lost this past season for snowmobile rest. Did you know most of thier headstones say "HOPEFULLY THERE IS SNOW IN HEAVEN" Sharis

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It was nice to see a Chicago station do the investigative report. People from that area are the main problem. It may help to tie DUI's on sleds to driver licenses, but how would that WI DUI get on an Illinois license. My advice to anyone who wants to play it safe. Don't drink, and don't use those trails in the northern part of the state during the weekend.

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Hi,
First let me say that I don't condone any drinking and driving regardless of the mode of transportation,also that I don't snowmobile and am not a bar owner or bartender.I'm wondering why channel 7 hadn't really made such an issue out of the snowmobile/drinking story until "one of your own" became a victim.According to your story 10 people (the Wausau Daily Herald says 5,who do you believe?)out of 15 fatalities on sleds were alcohol related,where was the concern prior to this incident?!Yes this unacceptable,but to blame ANYONE other than the individual driver or rider is absurd.I'm so tired of the "it's someone else's fault I did something stupid" mentality.Nobody forced these people to drink,the reporter from Chicago also had the opportunity to tell his buddy "no thanks you're too drunk to drive" and take his keys or call someone for a ride back.Everyone makes choices right or wrong.It's time for everyone to start accepting personal responsibility for their actions and quit whining after the fact.I don't agree with tying everything to a drivers license,we have these to drive registered automobiles period.What's next,where does it end? No I don't have,nor are there any easy answers.To sled drivers/riders:start policing your own,if you don't someone else will!
Iceman

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AS FOR RUSS DECKER'S COMMENTS
SNOWMOBILS ARE NOT MOTOR VEHICLE THEN WHY CAN YOU GET A TICKET ON A LAWN MOWE, BIKE, ATV ETC..IF YOU DRINK AND DRIVE YOU CAN KILL PEOPLE JUST LIKE THE CBS NEWS MAN, IF YOU ARE DRUNK ON A SNOWMOBIL YOU SHOULD BE ARRESTED FINED PUT IN JAIL AND YOUR DRIVING PRIVILEGES REVOKED AND NOT ABLE TO RIDE ON THE TRAILS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
I HAVE HEARD THE COMMENTS IF THEY CAN'T CATCH YOU IT'S OK. TRY TELLING THAT TO SOMEONES FAMILY AFTER YOU KILL SOMEONE. IF I CATCH YOU DRUNK I WILL MAKE SURE YOU ARE CAUGHT AND REMOVED OFF THE TRAILS. IF YOU PEOPLE WANT TO DRINK STAY HOME AND THEN YOU CAN ONLY HURT YOURSELF............
I'LL BE WAITING..