Finally, remember to check all your safety equipment such as headlights, taillights, mufflers, etc. and have a safe and enjoyable snowmobile season. Snowmobile on Michigan public lands and unlock an entire winter adventure season! State-designated trails are open from December 1 to March 31 and trail grooming takes place when there is enough snow on the ground. The snowmobile program is 100% funded with money from your access permit. Travel thousands of kilometres of public land open to snowmobiling, including state-designated hiking trails. Frozen waters, untilled shoulders of state, county or municipal roads, and thousands of acres are available for off-trail trails (backcountry snowmobiling). Want to try snowmobiling? There are many outfits throughout the state that rent snowmobiles for the day, weekend, or week. Find information about state snowmobile laws, equipment requirements, age restrictions, understanding trail signage, accident reports, safety information, group events, and more. Every year, as winter approaches, I am always asked questions about snowmobile rules and regulations. The most frequently asked question is, “What do I need on my sled to make it legal?” Most county highway rights-of-way are 33 feet from the center of the highway, and most state highway right-of-way rights are 66 feet from the center of the highway.
Private property owners still retain legal rights in the unmaintained portion of the right-of-way and may install prohibited barriers or erect barriers such as snow fencing. Speeding is the No. 1 cause of serious injuries and deaths of snowmobile operators. So where are the places where people can ride a snowmobile after it is registered? I say short and quick, because there are always exceptions to the laws. You do not need to register your sled if you use it exclusively on your own private property or on property under your control. In addition, you do not need to obtain a right of access if you use the snowmobile exclusively on frozen state waters for transportation during ice fishing. Michigan law establishes a set of standards and requirements for snowmobile equipment. Some of the basic equipment requirements include: If you are working on the emergency lane (where permitted) or on a public road right-of-way, the speed limit for snowmobiles is the same as for vehicles. If you are riding on a snowmobile trail or elsewhere, you must respect the indicated speed limits or not “drive at a speed greater than that which is appropriate and reasonable, taking into account the conditions that exist at that time.” Another question that is often asked is: “Can I drive my snowmobile on the road or on the side of the road?” GRAND RAPIDS, MI — In this week`s “Ask a Trooper” column, Lt. Rob Davis asked Lt.
Rob Davis, a conservation officer with the state`s Department of Natural Resources, to explain traffic rules for snowmobiles. Other issues that come up often include speed limits and helmets. Wearing a helmet is mandatory to ride a snowmobile anywhere outside of your own private property. Speed limits are also in place for snowmobiles. With this in mind, there is an exception to the law that allows county road commissions to allow snowmobiles to operate on the side of the road. The Snowmobile Advisory Working Group supports the Michigan Trails Advisory Council and advises MNR on the establishment, development, operation and maintenance of the state-designated snowmobile trail system. If a snowmobiler does not operate his snowmobile safely, he may expose himself to liability. Not only can they be held liable for violations in a civil lawsuit, but they can also be sued if they result in serious injury or death.
For other helpful guides to Michigan snowmobile equipment standards, check out Michigan.gov. When you look at these definitions, it becomes clearer that you can operate your snowmobile on unmaintained or untilled areas of the right-of-way, but not on the roadway or side of the road. If you plan to drive your snowmobile on a snowmobile trail, you will need to obtain an access permit. The right of access must be mounted on the snowmobile above or below the lighthouse. Access permits are valid for one year. It is at this time of year that our soldiers begin to answer many questions and complaints about snowmobiles. We can certainly enforce these laws, but we rely heavily on the advice and expertise of our conservation officers at the Ministry of Natural Resources. Interactive Map of Snowmobile Routes – GIS List Format Snowmobile Trails in State Parks The Act (MCL 324.82119) allows snowmobiles to “operate on the right-of-way of a public highway, other than a restricted road, when driven to the far right of the open portion of the right-of-way and with traffic on the road.” Drivers do not need to have a Michigan driver`s license to operate a snowmobile.
However, if your licence is suspended or revoked, you cannot operate a snowmobile. Children between the ages of 12 and 17 who do not have a valid Michigan driver`s license should obtain a snowmobile safety certificate. Security certificates are not necessarily required for children under the supervision of an adult over 21 years of age. With another snowmobile season in Michigan, as well as many people still looking for a safe way out of the house, many Michiganders are taking to the state`s many snowmobile trails. Before you go, you might want to remember Michigan`s snowmobile laws. Grand Rapid`s lawyer returns this week to break down the basics. In this week`s Ask a Trooper column, an official from the state`s Department of Natural Resources examines the rules for snowmobiles. More information, such as trail maps and additional regulations, can be found in the attached link, which is Michigan`s snowmobile website DNR: www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10365_14824—,00.html If a county allows this type of operation, signs will be posted on county lines stating that snowmobiles “are permitted on everyone`s right-of-way or shoulder.