BAY COUNTY, MI (WNEM) -
The next pit stop you take may contain a public service announcement.
Transportation officials in Michigan are sending out talking urinal cakes to hundreds of bars in Wayne, Bay, Ottowa and Delta counties.
A message embedded inside the cake will play a quick bit reminding guys who step up to the urinal to call a cab or friend to get home safely.
Donnie Krzysiak, owner of Krzysiak's House in Bay City, said they just showed up at his front door.
"All of a sudden we got this package in the mail. Here's these two urinal blocks, which say they are talking, and a flyer that tells you what to do with them," Krzysiak said.
The talking cakes are motion activated. When a man goes to do his business, he'll hear a sultry recorded voice from the bottom of the urinal.
One recorded message uses humor to command attention:
"Hey there big guy! Having a few drinks? Then listen up! Think you've had one too many? Then it's time to call a cab or a sober friend for a ride home. It sure is safer and a hell of a lot cheaper than a DWI. Make the smart choice tonight, don't drink and drive. Remember, your future is in your hand."
Still another message paints a vivid picture of what could happen if you are arrested for driving drunk (This recorded message was taken from the Wizmark Website – Michigan State Police informed us Thursday that they are not using this recording):
"Here's a real friendly reminder. Don't drive drunk. If you do and you get arrested, the next urinal you pee in will be in jail, with a hairy guy named Bubba standing behind asking you to pick up the soap..."
When we asked guys what they thought of this idea, the recording about "Bubba" made an impression.
"That's a first. Wow. Yeah, Bubba's behind you," Gary Kluka said.
Others were surprised at the graphic nature of the recording.
"That mental picture will keep everyone sober tonight," Chris Anczarki told us.
One issue that might water down the urinal cakes message is reliability.
"One (cake) doesn't work already, one works, so we got it in the main bathroom," Krzysiak said. And some of the cakes that are working play a muffled or garbled recording.
The cakes cost $21 each and last about three months.
The messages are part of a statewide Fourth of July education and enforcement effort. A kickoff is planned Monday at Detroit pub, The Old Shillelagh.
The federally funded drunken driving crackdown runs through July 8. It also includes stepped up patrols in 26 counties involving local police, county deputies and state troopers.
Talking urinal cakes have been used in other states for similar efforts.
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