First of all, let me thank you for bringing this serious problem to the attention of the general public. I was NOT aware that an individual who is charged with driving while intoxicated will not have to worry about losing points from his/her Wisconsin Driving License. I must strongly recommend to our Wisconsin Legislators that this be changed ... and changed soon! Possibly if people who insist on drinking and driving a snowmobile had to worry how this would affect his/her Driver's License, it may cause a few (I know not all, unfortunately) to think twice. Of course, the real problem is that drivers that do drink and drive are NOT thinking! Infortunately, too many people still subscribe to the saying "It's only illegal if you are caught". Stricter laws will help, but it still comes down to the fact that people have to take responsibility for their actions. If people continue to refuse to do this, this problem will only grow and more people will be killed and injured. Bartenders have to also realize that people have no more business getting on a snowmobile and driving while drunk than getting behind the wheel of a car and driving drunk. They both are "motorized" vehicles and each carry the SAME responsibility. As to an answer to this terrible problem, it will have to be a combination of ALL (individuals; laws (and the enforcement of them) and the bartenders. It is mind boggeling to realize that so many people in Wisconsin think they can not have a good time without drinking. Why does our society continue to make people feel they HAVE to drink in order to have fun? I do not understand and probably never will.
L. Thresher - Rhinelander, WI

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I think it is in very poor taste to spend so much newstime talking about something that could make your news station look so dumb. The sled trails have been open three times as long this year than in years past, and sleds are not made to go any slower, so of course the deaths are going to go up. I think you people are taking this too far and it is going to cost you some viewers.

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Your coverage makes it sound like snowmobiling is at fault when the actual problem is excessive drinking. Take your reporters to the lakefront bars in the summer, the golf course clubhouses, the bowling alleys, the bars after softball games, Packer games, etc. and you will witness the exact same behavior. In this case it just happens to be that the person got on a snowmobile. Snowmobiling is a great activity for many. Don't taint it with your agenda based reporting.

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Sue,

It is called "adult" responsibility!!!! You state that this year there have been 15 deaths from snowmobiling, where are your blogs for the other 14???? Their families are torn apart just like Randy's family and friends are. Is this because a famous person died? I am curious if they did a undercover story when Sonny died on the ski hill several years ago? The bottom line is as an adult, each and every person is responsible for their OWN actions. My sympathy goes out to all the families that loose a loved one. But the reality of all this is they choose to do what they want to do. Do we accuse the mechanic who just repaired our car, because a tire went flat while driving, and caused an accident? Or how about the metal manufacture who makes the metal for the gun? I have several guns in my home, and not 1 trigger has been pulled by itself!!! The person is responsible for the actions that the person chooses to do. Grow up America!!!

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You did it again, only reporting on the bad side of snowmobiling. All sports including deer hunting, motor cycling, boating, sports fans have there drunks! We have to start putting the blame where it should be, on the person who does it, the friends that don't stop their friends from driving when they are drunk, the bartenders that keep serving them, and even their family members that know that they have a family member that has a drinking problem! I been riding sleds since 1971, and all smart sledders know that you get off the trails early in the evening, and you only party when the sleds are put away. Thanks JB

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It is amazing that just b/c one person dies and knew the right connections in the right position could cause such a commotion. What about "Joe Schmo" that died in the same manner that no one seemed to make a ruckas over? Typical politics at work here.... Bars/bartenders and laws can only deter you from doing things, but can't stop you. It all comes down to personal choice and responsibility. It is unfortunate that people are getting better at placing blame and worse about taking responsibility for a bad decision...whatever happened to taking responsibility for you own actions? People can have drinks and get in a car just as easy as on a snowmobile. The only difference is that many people who don't ride often don't realize how high-performace of a machine a snowmobile really is.... If a teenager kills himself in his sports car that his parents bought him, no one goes after the manufacturer of the car, but people will question why he had that type of car at that age.... What about the people that crashed/died in the snowstorm down in southern WI? They made a CHOICE to be on the road when they shouldn't have...nobody is blaming the county or state for now plowing the roads enough... It all comes down to responsibility! If someone is going to drink and ride, they need to make the right choice. Stop placing blame on laws, bars, bartenders, etc.... It is unfortunate that the news anchor died, but he made a choice. He rode, drank, was not experienced on a sled, wasn't familiar enough with the trails, and was on a sled doing high speeds...no one else's fault but his. Nice work Channel 7 on trying to destroy tourism in northern WI and making us look like bad people... When your card is pulled, thats it...whether you are riding a snowmobile or sitting in your easy chair...

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Hello Sue:
I feel that Wisconsin lacks justice when it comes to drinking and driving. Whether it be on snowmobile or vehicle. This reporter getting killed is a tradgedy. The sad thing is I hear people defending this. What is going on? No morals just selfishness when people say things like "if I get killed while riding my snowmobile and drinking then I will die with a smile on my face." How horrible is that? I really don't believe the deceased family feels that way. It is sad that if you get picked up for driving your snowmobile drunk it does not go on your driving record. How does that define justice?? The judicial system in Wausau is absolutely messed up. I read in the paper that so and so got picked up for drunk driving this was his or hers 5th offense and all they get is 60 days in jail and maybe probabtion. What a joke. If someone who is driving drunk and has a prior record and my family would get killed by that person, you can bet I would be after that person and the court system. This is absolutely a horrible situation. Thank you, Jeri Blumenstein

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That anchor man was probably drunk too. He is the one that decided to get on that snowmobile and now the driver is being charged with homicide? That's not right. It would be different if it was someone under 18 on the back of that sled, but these are two grown men who made that desition by themselves. And another thing is as soon as an Illinois man gets killed, all of sudden there is a problem here in Wisconsin.

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This is just another story to mess up the tourism in this great state. WSAW, try not to wreck a great sport that we have here in Wisconsin. Go into a bar with a hidden camera at 2am "WOW" amazing what you could find. What if you did that in Chicago or any other city? I have removed WSAW from my favorites list as they should know better than to play a story like this.

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How much longer must we endure these stories on snowmobiling? Just because "one of your own" happened to be killed because he was either A) To stupid to get on a sled with his drunk buddy or B) He was too drunk himself to make a rational decision to get on the sled, we the viewer must endure countless stories regarding snowmobiling safety? Do us all a favor and start looking for something else to talk about. Maybe you are just trying to stir the pot in order to garner better ratings, which in and of itself is sad.

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Regarding this story, it is getting old. If all you can do is find supporting statistics, your fishing, if you really want a story, facilitate a debate and watch the statistics fly. As a member of a suicide task force developing here in central wi. I can assure there are more deaths from suicide avg. 13 in central wi and an avg 33/year in the state .that fact is based on real evidence and entails several different compulations. This year is the first time in the last ten years we have had good riding conditions for an extended period of time. look at highway 39/51 on friday afternoon and see who is headed north with snowmobiles.They are easy to spot because IL. requires trailers to be registered. consider this have the laws of surrounding states forced those who wish to drink and ride to come to WI.I would enjoy a debate on this subject. and my last point is did the passanger somehow contribute to losing control of the sled? Was he sober enough to be a passenger, could he hold on, did he pass out until all these questions are answered I must hold that drinking and riding/driving is a personal choice.

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WHAT IS ALL THE NEED FOR SPEED, I RODE YEARS AGO AND A FAST SLED RUN ABOUT 60. WE HAD SOME WRECKS ,BUT NOT THE ONES THAT TURN OUR BODIES INTO UN-GUIDED CANNON BALLS.MAKE THE CO. THAT BUILD THE KILLING SLEDS MORE REGULATED, WE DID GET THEM TO DO AWAY WITH THE 3 WHEELERS,AS FOR THE SPEEDING AND OWI ATTACHTHEM TO THE DRIVERS LICENCE.WILL IT TAKE SOMEONE CRIPPLED FOR LIFE OR EVEN KILLED FOR YOU TO SEE. PRAY IT WON'T HAPPEN TO TOU. SPEEDING, AND OWI KILLS AND CRIPPLES THE INOCENT TO0.

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I've been reading some of these comments. It's too bad people have to loose their lives before action is taken. The person driving should get a ticket just like driving a truck/car ect. and maybe if jail time went along with the fine, more people would think before getting out of hand with drinking. Snowmobiling is suppose to be a fun sport not a trggety. Maybe the people who make the trails should also consider how close to taverns they are. So alot of people could actually be the blame not just one person. Stiffer laws should be enforced, obviously some adults still do need to have a babysitter.

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Hi Susan, Although I feel for those that have been involved in alcohol related snowmobile accidents,I do bieleve that the responsibility lies within the person doing the drinking and the snowmobiling. I have been an owner of a sled and never had more than two beers while on the trails. Although I find your stories on tv compelling it is as if you are taking a stand for doing something about another persons decisions. The story is getting old and people have to remember one thing. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS!!!
Thank You,
CTB from mosinee

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If somebody see a snowmobiler at a travern too drunk to drive home. Why can they take their keys away? And give that person a ride home. It would be a whole lot safe and nobody would get hurt or killed. Sue Karau

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Susan-
My Family and I have been snowmobiling for many years. My parents always planned a family trip to the UP and my brothers and I along with friends would put on a couple hundred miles. I enjoy the sport WITHOUT the drinking. Now my husband and I are doing the same with our 2 young kids ages 3 and 17 mos. We like to ride at night cause we both work during the day and we can see other sleds coming at us on the trails. We use harnesses on the kids to keep them from falling off and we drive sensible...not reckless like most of them out there. I find it hard to feel sorry for these people that are killed on snowmobile because they were drunk. I totally agree with the zero tolerance that they have in the UP. That is why you find more people going to MN and the UP to get away from these idiots that choose to drink and the drive their sleds at high speeds through the winding wooded trails. Years ago when I was in high school, I remember a guy that was killed on his snowmobile cause he ran into a barbed wire fence....don't remember the cause(Alcohol or speed) but I don't want to be going to a family member's funeral because they were killed by these people that refuse to drive sober and sensible. As for some of these that say it is acceptable to have a beer, I agree with that, but DON'T DRIVE! I think that the drinking laws should be a little more stricter with snowmobilers, because you have less protection than in a vehicle. When I saw the bartender on hidden camera giving this guy "one last shot", I just thought to myself that bartenders who serve people like that and then let them get on their sleds and go they should be fined also. Like I said before, I don't want to be going to a funeral for instance, my kids....because of some drunken idiot out there on their sled trying to keep up with the rest of his drunken idiot friends. Don't worry Sue, I still plan on watching channel 7....I thought that you guys did a good job with this story. My husband and I and also my co-workers found it interesting.

northwoods mom of 2
antigo, wi

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I was in one of the bars your undercover reporters were in and they were shaking for shots with the female bartender.After they were done drinking they got on there sleds and down the trail they went. Thats the poorest reporting I have ever seen done, how dare you blame the the bartenders what ever happened to being reponsible for your self!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Ok enough reports on the people that never made it home after drinking and driving on sleds. How about some reports on all the people who do make it home safe after drinking all night because they're smart enough to slow down or not drive. No laws will stop stupid decisions. Its not alcohol thats to blame for this its stupid people. Lets lock up stupid people so we can all be safe

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HI, MY NAME IS JOSH ELSON I AM A HARD CORE RIDER. AND I FEEL THAT THE LAW SHOULD NOT CHANGE AT ALL. AND IF IT SHOULD CHANGE THEN THE DRIVERS AGE SHOULD CHANGE ALSO FROM 12 TO 16. ANOTHER REASON THE LAW SHOULD NOT CHANGE IS ,YOU CANT RIDE ON A HIGHWAY WITH A SLED . AND A PERSON ALSO DOSE NOT NEED A DRIVERS LICENSE TO RIDE !! SO WITH THAT SAID DRIVING LAWS STAY ON THE ROADS . AND TRAIL RULES STAY ON THE TRAILS!!

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I really feel that you are beating a dead horse here. A whole week of listening to what bad people that snowmobilers are is getting old. You have not said a word about the good things that these people are doing. This sport is comprised of many families that donate their time creating and maintaining the state trails for Wisconsin and also out of state families to enjoy. Along with the families enjoying the sport, there is a whole industry that relies on the money spent during the winter months, tourism. The way the original story was put together, it not only down grades the people that snowmobile, but also is going to have a negative effect on the tourism industry as a whole. I feel very strogly that you as reporters are wrong for protraying only the bad side of this, and are forgetting the good side of this family sport.