I am not sure just what backwater that fatality occurred at but with a fatality, in most jurisdictions, the police get involved, and are mandated to investigate the death. There would have been a mandatory BAC (blood alcohol content) test of the driver (and probably during autopsy of the skier) in most every state. Having a past DUI should have been a non sequitor and irrelevant if the due diligence by the chief driver, the local investigator(s), the medical examiner, and the defense team lawyers had been up to par.
I am on record as opposed to the MVR checks for various reasons. One for sure is that an open container violation is not necessarily a driving offense. The states vary in codifying it as illegal and how and where it's enforced.
AWSA has had a very commendable safety record. USAWS has thrown AWSA drivers in with drivers from every discipline, and somehow sold the benefits of "sanctioned practice" (whatever that is...)insurance and requirements into the mix, WITHOUT insuring the structure is in place and available to EVERY club needing to meet the new 'trained driver' requirements to remain insured.
Worse yet, as I recall, somehow there was little (or no) warning to the membership to be affected, by any USAWS official. Perhaps it was anticipated there would be some "angst" about it and it should be a done deal when the matter was shared with the membership? Sure saved defending the measure ahead of its implementation didn't it?
Now let me present an alternate to the path that was taken- How about USAWS agreeing to stop providing insurance to the discipline(s) with documented safety issues? But of course, as long as the lion's share of the active membership is 3-event, paying the bills, they couldn't very well do that. So 3-event got pulled down along with the others.
I really don't care if the 'failed' percentage is less than 2%. What still annoys me is USAWS still telling me that the lipstick they put on this pig is only for the benefit of the membership, and makes us all so much safer. The "resistance is futile" philosophy doesn't cut it for me.
And FYI- It ain't about the $12.50. The ONLY reason I will comply with it is that the group I ski with will need me to remain a rated (senior) driver, to use the lake we ski on.
I think the membership deserves better from its officials than the cavalier contempt it demonstrated when this all started. It also deserves an apology and maybe perhaps USAWS could quit telling me what a great deal they arranged for me. I get quite enough of that from other politicians.