§ 12 §13106-A — Operation of snowmobile

1.
No permission given.
This chapter does not give license or permission to cross or go on the property of another.
2.
Stop and identify requirement.
Persons operating a snowmobile upon the land of another shall stop and identify themselves upon the request of the landowner or the landowner's representative.
3.
Operating snowmobile upon controlled access highway.
Except as provided in paragraph A, a person may not operate a snowmobile upon a controlled access highway or within the right-of-way limits of a controlled access highway.
4.
Unlawfully operating snowmobile on plowed road.
A person may not operate a snowmobile upon any plowed private road, or public road plowed privately without public compensation, after having been forbidden to do so by the owner thereof, the owner's agent or a municipal official, either personally or by appropriate notices posted conspicuously on that road.
5.
Operating snowmobile on public way.
Except as provided in subsection 3 and this subsection, a person may not operate a snowmobile upon the main traveled portion, the sidewalks or the plowed snowbanks of a public way.
6.
Failing to stop snowmobile before entering public way.
A person shall bring a snowmobile to a complete stop before entering a public way or a private way maintained for travel.
7.
Failing to yield right-of-way while operating snowmobile.
A person shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicular traffic while operating a snowmobile on a public way or a private way maintained for travel.
8.
Crossing closed bridge, culvert, overpass or underpass with snowmobile.
This subsection applies to the crossing with a snowmobile of a bridge, culvert, overpass or underpass closed to snowmobiles by the Commissioner of Transportation.
9.
Reckless operation of snowmobile.
A person may not operate a snowmobile in such a way as to recklessly create a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to another person. Violation of this subsection is a Class D crime.
10.
Operating snowmobile to endanger.
A person may not operate a snowmobile so as to endanger any person or property by:
11.
Operating snowmobile at greater than reasonable and prudent speed.
A person may not operate a snowmobile except at a reasonable and prudent speed for the existing conditions.
12.
Operating snowmobile while underage.
A person under 14 years of age may not operate a snowmobile across any public way maintained for travel.
13.
Permitting unaccompanied child to operate snowmobile.
A person may not permit a child under 10 years of age to operate a snowmobile unless the child is accompanied by an adult.
14.
Snowmobile noise level limits.
14-A.
Snowmobile noise requirements.
This subsection governs noise level requirements for snowmobiles.
15.
Snowmobile headlight and taillight equipment requirements.
Except as provided in section 13112, a person may not operate a snowmobile that is not equipped as provided in this subsection.
16.
Required use of snowmobile lights.
Except as provided in section 13112, a person shall use lights as specified in this subsection.
17.
Unlawfully operating snowmobile on railroad tracks.
The following provisions govern the operation of a snowmobile on railroad tracks or railroad rights-of-way.
18.
Operating snowmobile in cemetery.
A person may not operate a snowmobile in any cemetery, burial place or burying ground.
19.
Operating too close to certain buildings.
A person may not operate a snowmobile within 200 feet of a dwelling, hospital, nursing home, convalescent home or church.
20.
Abuse of another person's property.
A person may not while operating a snowmobile:
21.
Snowmobile owner; operation by another.
A person is in violation of this subsection if that person is the owner of a snowmobile that is operated in violation of this chapter.
22.
Parent or guardian; operation by minor.
A person is in violation of this subsection if that person is the parent or guardian responsible for the care of a minor under 18 years of age who is operating a snowmobile in violation of this chapter.
23.
Failure to report accident.
24.
Operating snowmobile on open water.
A person may not operate or attempt to operate a snowmobile on open water. For purposes of this subsection, "open water" means any area of an inland water body that is free of ice and snow. This subsection does not apply to private ponds.
25.
Headgear required.
This subsection applies to snowmobile trails funded by the Snowmobile Trail Fund of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands.
26.
Operating snowmobile left of center of snowmobile trail.
A person may not operate a snowmobile to the left of the center on a snowmobile trail that is funded in whole or part by the Snowmobile Trail Fund when approaching or navigating a curve, corner, grade or hill. For purposes of this subsection, "snowmobile trail" means a trail that is at least wide enough to allow 2 snowmobiles to pass safely in opposite directions and where the snow over the entire width of the trail has been mechanically packed and groomed for the purpose of snowmobile traffic.
27.
Operating snowmobile in posted area.
A person may not operate a snowmobile off a snowmobile trail identified by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands as having been funded by the Snowmobile Trail Fund pursuant to section 1893, subsection 3 if the trail is posted as being closed to off‑trail snowmobile operation and the operator has not obtained the permission of the applicable landowner or landowner's representative. For purposes of this subsection, "posted" means containing signage that is reasonably likely to come to the attention of a person operating a snowmobile that indicates that off‑trail snowmobiling is prohibited and that is placed by the landowner, the landowner's representative, a local snowmobile club trail master serving as the landowner's representative, a local snowmobile club representative or an employee of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

Legislative History

PL 2003, c. 655, §B394 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 73, §1 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 436, §5 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 651, §19 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 340, §20 (AMD). RR 2011, c. 2, §12 (COR). PL 2011, c. 533, §11 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 (REV). PL 2015, c. 413, §1 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 71, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 164, §26 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 452, §12 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 184, §§13, 14 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 163, §1 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 267, §3 (AMD).