SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah ski officials kick off the new season energized by the growing possibility of another Winter Olympics bid and buoyed by two straight seasons of record visitation. But there’s also some concern that publicity surrounding the state’s strict new DUI law that goes into effect next year may keep skiers and snowboarders away by adding to the long-held stigma that visitors can’t have fun in Utah.
State lawmakers voted to lower Utah’s blood alcohol limit for most drivers to 0.05 percent from 0.08 percent in a move they think will save lives. The change gave the state the strictest drunken driving threshold in the country and triggered backlash from tourism groups. The law is set to take effect on Dec. 30, 2018.
Nathan Rafferty, CEO of Ski Utah, said the ski industry wants to make the roads safe but said penalizing someone for driving after having one or two glasses of wine misses the mark. Rafferty said he’s going to lobby state legislators this year to tweak the law so that that it doesn’t penalize lower-level DUIs the same as higher levels.
The negative press that came after the Utah law was signed doesn’t help Utah as it tries to compete with Colorado, California and Canada for winter vacationers.
The American Beverage Institute ran full-page ads in Salt Lake City’s two daily newspapers and USA Today, featuring a fake mug shot under a large headline reading, “Utah: Come for vacation, leave on probation.”
“It just underscores that element that we’re working hard to dispense with, which is that Utah is a tough place to have fun,” Rafferty said. “It’s one step forward and two steps back.”
Spokeswomen for Deer Valley and Park City Mountain said they will focus on reminding visitors they can do a car-free trip to their resorts in Park City thanks to town shuttles, car services from the hotel and the relatively close proximity to the Salt Lake City International Airport, which is about 30 miles away.
Brian Head Resort and tourism officials were contacted for comment, but did not return calls by publication time.
“We’re always kind of dealing with those quirks of Utah and the perception,” said Emily Summers of Deer Valley Resort. “But then again we really thrive on family vacations and spring breaks where they have kids elementary-school aged.”
Rafferty isn’t worried about Utah’s reluctance to join Colorado, California and Nevada in legalizing marijuana. He said Utah ski resorts embrace being known as family friendly destinations.
“We’re happy not playing in that realm,” Rafferty said. “Utah is never going to be Las Vegas. We’re not going to sell ourselves as party central and we’re totally comfortable with that.”
Brighton planned to open Nov. 21, the first of Utah’s 14 ski resorts to open for the season. Several others are planning to open the day before Thanksgiving as the industry aims to set a visitation record for the third consecutive season.
Brian Head Resort will be open for skiing the weekend of Nov. 24-26, then closed Nov. 27-30 before re-opening Dec. 1, according to its website.
Fueled by above average snowfall, the state registered nearly 4.6 million skier days last winter, surpassing nearly 4.5 million the year before, according to Ski Utah figures.
Olympics dreaming
Utah resorts are giddy about the possibility of Salt Lake City hosting another Winter Olympics, which would bring priceless exposure and likely lead to infrastructure improvements by resorts and government.
“It’s a 17-day infomercial showcasing the very best of the best,” Rafferty said.
An exploratory committee is working to see if it’s feasible for Salt Lake City to make a bid for the 2026 or 2030 Winter Games. It plans to issue its recommendation to state leaders in February.
The state’s pitch would center on the fact that Salt Lake City can put on world-class Olympics for less money than cities that have to start from ground zero since most of the venues remain in use from the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Deer Valley regularly hosts World Cup ski events, one example of how the state would be able to easily get ready for another Olympics, Summers said.
“We’re all behind it and we could pull it off really well,” she said.
Written by BRADY McCOMBS, Associated Press
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Once again money over safety.
Did you read the article? The legal limit will be a ridiculous .05. Where did you read that someone is putting money over safety?
You don’t want a drink or two of wine or whatever with a nice meal and you are very willing to deny others their enjoyment. Totalitarian/fascist. Life is risk; everything we do is wrought with danger and illness. Snowflake, the government will never be able to protect you from death and illness; reality.
And neither will their church.
Let’s remember that Colorado already has a law regarding impaired driving when your BAC is above 0.05%, but below 0.08%. Utah’s law will likely be tweaked in 2018 to moderate the penalties, so it is in line with Colorado. They are still trying to figure out how to monitor the impairment due to weed, in a quantitative manner.
We have science on the side of setting a lower limit, and many of the tourists visiting Utah from overseas are used to having a tighter BAC limit for impaired driving in their home countries.
Ski Utah should figure out what the resorts will do with their extensive infrastructure, once snow stops falling reliably in winter.
We already have to blow millions of gallons of water in overnight freezing temperatures to put something white on the ground.
Utah has always been a more family-oriented ski scene, than other locations. If Ski Utah values its longevity, it might spend time figuring out how to engage the upcoming generation of skiers, and boarders, so they are willing to pay $100+ for lift tickets…
Said it before, will say it again. The new limit is just plain stupid, and makes Utah look even more backwards. You want to make a serious difference? Increase the penalties, ESPECIALLY for repeat offenders. Giving DUI’s to Mom because she had half a glass of wine is just lunacy.
And yes it will hurt the tourism industry.
We know who is behind this story, I heard I tv last night since Friday the state Liquors stores have taken 7n a record 5. 1/2 million dollars, the state benefits from that money, so why is the church prohibit8ng the state people who pay taxes and restrict tourism, especially the Chance to have the Olympics..when are the law makers going to realize what decisions they make affect everyone in the state and more people moving in are not Mormons.. wakup people.. many Mormons I know drink too..
Please please please award Utah the Olympics, then please please please, nobody come. The waiter asks, “And what would you like to drink with your steak sir?” “Oh this water is very tasty thank you, I’m good.”