DNR chief suspends mobile snowmobile patrol in northern Wisconsin

[Ronder]

After receiving an outpouring of concerns and complaints about a roving Department of Natural Resources snowmobile patrol squad, DNR secretary Cathy Stepp announced last week that she and her management team had suspended the program in northern Wisconsin and will review it in its entirety.

Stepp acted just in time to spare last weekend's Cruiserfest in Minocqua, which the patrol, also known as SART (Snowmobile Accident Reduction Team), planned to attend. Stepp pulled the plug on the expedition.

http://www.lakelandtimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=9&ArticleID=12658

 

[arctiva]

Just goes to show selling beer and letting people ride drunk is more
important than makeing trails safer. I really liked the part where they say concerned people might not wanna come because of the dnr checking for drunks.

Unreal

 

[xcr440]

Cruiserfest got their attention the best, but its not the only place they are not wanted. 2 weekends ago it was communicated throughout the community around Lake Namakogan that the DNR task force were going to be staying there doing this very thing, and we avoided the area like the plague.

 

[xcr440]

Just goes to show selling beer and letting people ride drunk is more
important than makeing trails safer. I really liked the part where they say concerned people might not wanna come because of the dnr checking for drunks.

Unreal

When you get stopped 3 times in 40 miles, tell me how much safer that is making the trails. This was the case 3 years ago for me. Now I ask and avoid the areas where they camp out.

 

[swampcat]

I see this as a step in the right direction, LESS GOVERNMENT CONTROL.

 

[kamikaze_bros]

This is a very interesting story. The part that intrigues me, is how the department shifted funds to support the saturation effort. I highly doubt the that the Department of Transportation would cough up money to support a State Highway Patrol saturation check point.

 

[lookin4snow]

When you get stopped 3 times in 40 miles, tell me how much safer that is making the trails. This was the case 3 years ago for me. Now I ask and avoid the areas where they camp out.

I agree. I think we can all agree that safer trails are good for everyone and the sport. The means and methods of how you accomplish this can and will be debated. I think it is good that the WDNR is going to review the program which will hopefully result in them improving the way in which they conduct their business.

 

[whitedust]

When you get stopped 3 times in 40 miles, tell me how much safer that is making the trails. This was the case 3 years ago for me. Now I ask and avoid the areas where they camp out.

You get caught in a dragnet once doing nothing wrong & you say screw it not going there again. I know how this feels & want to ride my sled not show my registration every couple of miles. 1 check ok but 3 in is crazy.

 

[dickmsp]

I was on a saddle bag trip last year and at a lunch stop, we were warned about a large female WI DNR officer who would be in plain snowmobile clothing--NOT a DNR uniform, and she would pose like her machine broke down, hood up, helmet off, so we could see it was a damsel in distress, on the lake that Lakewoods Resort is on.. Guys would stop to help, and she would whip out a breathalizer, which by stopping, you were volentarily accepting a breathalizer check. if you refused, you'd be prosecuted. As a result, no one stopped to help anyone, and when the businesses got wind of this, complaints were filed.. the restaurant owner was extremely upset at the DNR's tactics, especially, since it was a good snow year and they were finally getting snowmobilers in for business, and the DNR was chasing business away.. for the record, I don't drink and ride, and I didn't run into her doing this.. I did howerver get stopped with a bunch of other snowmobilers between Brule and Iron river when this gal and another officer were checking for trail stickers.. The impression I got was not "welcome to WI, thanks for buying a trail sticker" but rather intimidation--"we'll be watching your every move you dam dirty snowmobiler." This really threw me off, because my usual experience is WI people are great. They welcome snowmobilers, they want us to have fun and enjoy the great trails.

 

[mikeh906]

I am ok with reasonable stops. WI. in Hayward and the infamose Phipps always had traps, a stop sign ticket was normal, staying sober was a must. Down by Bergland we hit a few check points over the years and it was very smooth and easy. Just show reg. card and roll on, of course we had 1 in the group with no reg. card, and exp tags. He had a trail sticker and a bill of sale. Mn transfer or something. But they were nice about it. Another time we ran along the tracks 100 ft, to avoid huge water areas and hit the road 200ft from the Hoop, A female MHP was sitting in her car at the road, we did not know we can not run next to the tracks. We wish in the end we had cracked WOT to the lake, but we are legal and sober, so no big deal, yah right. She only hit us with on ticket, but it really did not matter as we felt like we got shaken down. Those cash machines are handy. Walked into the Hoop and got our get out of jail cash. Cash or jail. Now we know not to run by tracks at the end of the month. A sad end to a last day of the year run.

 

[xcr440]

I was on a saddle bag trip last year and at a lunch stop, we were warned about a large female WI DNR officer who would be in plain snowmobile clothing--NOT a DNR uniform, and she would pose like her machine broke down, hood up, helmet off, so we could see it was a damsel in distress, on the lake that Lakewoods Resort is on..

That would be Lake Namekagon (Spelled it wrong before). Same story I was hearing last year as well, which is why we DID NOT go there.

 

[dickmsp]

Yup, and that's why the businesses were more pissed than we were. we spread the word at dinner, but the owner knew about the DNR's tactics, and was very very pist.. Plus, think of how much money we drop in a 3 day weekend... including gas to trailer our sleds up there... and if 4 or 5 groups of 5 snowmobiles Don't go to the area, just a small number of no-shows make a difference.. Of course, if eventually everyone avoids the area, the DNR can say they caused a reduction in accidents.... when in reality, it wil be a reduction in the businesses we support... Anyway, glad to hear something was done about the problem..

 

[booondocker]

When does "enforcement of the law" become harassment and interference of pursuit of happiness?

The point of placing registration and trail stickers on the sides of sleds is to make them visible without the need to check for bill of sale, driver's licenses and other things that come into play that give officers "probable cause" to stop and check further.

This is a thin line, and clearly it can have a negative impact on anyone.

It is NOT any justification that "if you weren't doing anything wrong" you have nothing to worry about.

Nazi Germany used that process all the time. Many socialist countries give up the "presumption of innocent" precept, to justify abuse of civil rights.

In the USA, we struggle with this "line" all the time. Thankfully we have not turned the corner to the point where we can stop anyone without probable cause...at least not yet.

But these rights are fundamental, and what our country has fought hard to maintain. Hopefully folks will continue to embrace that right for what it is and understand the difference between having and not having it.

 

[john w]

(get real)

Just goes to show selling beer and letting people ride drunk is more
important than makeing trails safer. I really liked the part where they say concerned people might not wanna come because of the dnr checking for drunks.

Unreal

I think it has lot more to do with harrasment by an agency with way to much power then checking for a person who has a had a couple of drinks.

 

[Dennis]

.
.
.
Why cant thy Smile and at least not be such a-holes.I like getting out and I'm not doing anything wrong but every time thy are out its like I just stole something.I think thy all should have to be wal-mart greeters for a month and than maybe thy would appreciate there jobs and that most people are just out releasing some pressure and taking in the places you could not see any other time of the year.I know we need them but put down your big attitudes its not like we are all running drugs.I've only came across two officers that had the right attitude and must really liked what thy were doing sent us on are way with you go have a good day and be safe attitude.the rest act like I'm going to get you for something.I don't know what but its something.This is one of the reasons I don't snowmobile anywhere around any of the outlying areas of the twin cities I will pack up and travel at least an hour or two just for a day ride if need to.I just wish thy would go back to being safety officers and not revenue officers.

 

[rocky367]

I can see how the enforcement deters folks from going to these areas, especially when you keep getting hammered just by riding the trails and obeying the rules. However, I also wish they would make their presence felt out on the trails, and not just ticketing, but stopping folks and discussing what they are doing wrong instead of issuing tickets right away. To me the riding by the train tracks and ticketing folks for avoiding the water is plain stupid when they could have simply stopped you and mentioned that fact. Around here I see folks doing things out on the sled that I feel should be stopped but there just isn't enough enforcement to correct it, but also some things could be corrected gently. Hope this makes sense.

 

[whitedust]

After 2009 Cruiserfest in Minocqua CSART (Snowmobile Accident Reduction Team), known as SART (Snowmobile Accident Reduction Team), was exposed for many abuses including State money spent on lodging & transportaion + overtime pay. I'm glad the State has pulled the plug & is reviewing the program. Thank goodness things seem to be FINALLY changing in Madison!

 

[LoveMyDobe]

Story or truth

That would be Lake Namekagon (Spelled it wrong before). Same story I was hearing last year as well, which is why we DID NOT go there.

Yes I also heard this rumor about the DNR lady. I haven't talked to or heard anyone that can confirm this first hand. Anyone out there know more? I mentioned this to a DNR warden and he laughed. I personally haven't had any trouble with them, but when someone does it speads like wildfire! I know years past they patrolled just down the road from a radar run and stopped everyone! It really gives our area a bad name. Wonder what they are doing today with no tourist around.

 

[Ronder]

"If we as an agency keep doing business as usual, nothing’s going to improve. I’ve got to tell you that morale in this agency is so low.”

Cathy Stepp, natural resources secretary

 

[ridindirty800]

I just heard the story of the lady with the hood open on the side of the trail last weekend while riding in the Mercer area. That was the first time I ever heard of it.