Laws On Snowmobile Use

[burbotman]

What are the laws regarding snowmobile operation on roadways?Are they supposed to be on designated trails,frozen lakes(state land) only and only with a valid trail permit?I was wondering about it because of a increasing amount of snowmobiles being rode in a small residential area up North(disrupting the peace and quiet),especially on the weekends.When ridden on a roadway,are they required to obey the same traffic laws as cars are, including posted speed limits,stop at stop signs,yield to traffic,etc.I know that the COs are responsible for enforcing snowmobile and ATV use on State land and have issued many tickets for reckless operation,no trail permits,etc.

[Steve]

Moving to law forum.

[boehr]

Originally posted by burbotman
What are the laws regarding snowmobile operation on roadways?Are they supposed to be on designated trails,frozen lakes(state land) only and only with a valid trail permit?I was wondering about it because of a increasing amount of snowmobiles being rode in a small residential area up North(disrupting the peace and quiet),especially on the weekends.When ridden on a roadway,are they required to obey the same traffic laws as cars are, including posted speed limits,stop at stop signs,yield to traffic,etc.I know that the COs are responsible for enforcing snowmobile and ATV use on State land and have issued many tickets for reckless operation,no trail permits,etc.

Boy, you have asked a lot of questions here. I will give a short explanation and provide a link where you can find out more.

Let's talk about riding on the roadway first. Some counties it is allowed but most counties do not allow riding on the roadway. Don't confuse the roadway with the road right-of-way. When operated on either, the roadway or right-of-way, yes they must obey all traffic laws, stop signs, speed limits etc. A person shall not operate a snowmobile upon a public highway, land used as an airport or street, or on a public or private parking lot not specifically designated for the use of snowmobiles except under the following conditions and circumstances:

A snowmobile may be operated on the right-of-way of a public highway, except a limited access highway, if it is operated at the extreme right of the open portion of the right-of-way and with the flow of traffic on the highway. However, a snowmobile may be operated on the right-of-way of a public highway against the flow of traffic if the right-of-way is a snowmobile trail designated by the department in the plan developed and is approved by the state transportation department and the department. Snowmobiles operated on the right-of-way of a public highway shall travel single file and shall not be operated abreast except when overtaking and passing another snowmobile. In the absence of a posted snowmobile speed limit, a snowmobile operated on the right-of-way of a public highway shall be limited to the speed limit posted on the public highway.

A snowmobile may be operated on the roadway or shoulder when necessary to cross a bridge or culvert if the snowmobile is brought to a complete stop before entering onto the roadway or shoulder and the driver yields the right-of-way to an approaching vehicle on the highway.

A snowmobile may be operated across a public highway other than a limited access highway, at right angles to the highway, for the purpose of getting from 1 area to another when the operation can be done in safety and another vehicle is not crossing the highway at the same time in the same general area. An operator shall bring his or her snowmobile to a complete stop before proceeding across the public highway and shall yield the right-of-way to all oncoming traffic.

Snowmobiles may be operated on a highway in a county road system that is not normally snowplowed for vehicular traffic and on the plowed right-of-way or shoulder when no right-of-way exists on a snowplowed highway in the county road system, outside the corporate limits of a city or village, that is designated and marked for snowmobile use by the county road commission having jurisdiction. Upon the request of a county road commission that has designated all county roads outside the corporate limits of a city or village for snowmobile use, the state transportation department shall erect at county road commission expense and shall maintain, in accordance with the Michigan manual of uniform traffic control devices standards, the basic snowmobile sign unit together with a supplemental panel stating "permitted on right-of-way or shoulder of all (county name) roads-Act 74 of P.A. 1968" at the county line on all state trunk line highways and county roads. A city or village by ordinance may designate 1 or more specific public highways or streets within its jurisdiction as egress and ingress routes for the use of snowmobiles. A city or village acting under the authority of this subdivision shall erect and maintain, in accordance with the Michigan manual of uniform traffic control devices standards, a sign unit giving proper notice of the designation.

When operating with 100 feet of a dwelling, most residential areas they will be within that 100 feet, between 12 midnight and 6 a.m., at a speed greater than the minimum required to maintain forward movement of the snowmobile.

Some snowmobile info:
http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/SubIndex.asp?SubLinkID=147&sec=enfo&parent=146

Snowmobile Law
http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/law_book/statutes/code/part821.html

[burbotman]

Thanks, Boehr...I'll check out that link.