HomeMy WebLinkAbout97-03 Snowmobile Requirements
ORDINANCE NO. Vf7-03
CITY OF PRIOR LAKE
SCOTT COUNTY, MINNESOTA
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 6
OF THE PRIOR LAKE CITY CODE
CONCERNING SNOWMOBILES
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PRIOR LAKE ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. The Prior Lake City Code, Title 11, Chapter 2, is amended in its
entirety to read:
11-2-1: DEFINITIONS: The following terms as used in this Section shall have the
meanings stated.
PERSO N : Includes an individual, partnership, corporation, the state and
its agencies and subdivisions, and any body of persons,
whether incorporated or not.
SNOWMOBILE:
A self-propelled vehicle designed for travel on snow or ice
steered by skis or runners.
OWNER:
A person, other than a lien holder, having the property in or
title to a snowmobile entitled to the use or possession thereof.
OPERATE:
To ride in or on and control the operation of a snowmobile.
OPERA TOR:
Every person who operates or is in actual physical control of
a snowmobile.
ROADWAY:
That portion of a street or highway improved, designed, or
ordinarily used for vehicular travel including the shoulder.
RIGHT -OF-WAY:
The entire strip of land traversed by a street or highway in
which the public owns the fee or an easement for roadway
purposes.
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STREET OR
HIGHWAY:
The entire width between boundary lines or any way or place
when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a
matter of right, for the purpose of vehicular traffic.
SAFETY OR DEAD-
MAN THROTTLE:
A device which, when pressure is removed from the engine
accelerator or throttle, causes the motor to be disengaged
from the driving track.
11-2-2:
APPLICATION OF OTHER LAWS:
A. City Code provisions relating to vehicular traffic shall apply to the operation of
snowmobiles upon street and highways; and Minnesota Statutes, Sections 84.81
through 84.49, and Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 169 are hereby adopted by
reference except those provisions which by their nature have no application.
B. The City Council may by resolution, following a published notice, prohibit the
operation of snowmobiles within the right-of-way of the public roads or streets or
other areas within the City, when in the opinion of the City Council the public
safety and welfare so require.
A.
B.
11-2-3:
OPERATION ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS:
County Highway 13. Snowmobiles may be operated in the ditch along the outside
bank but may not be operated on the roadway surface except to cross at right
angles.
County Roads. Snowmobiles may be operated in the ditch along the outside bank
but may not be operated on the roadway surface except to cross at right angles.
Where curbs or sidewalks exist and no ditch exists, travel is not allowed on the
roadway surface.
C.
City Streets. Snowmobiles may be operated on City Streets, except Main Avenue,
in single file, on the most right-hand lane when available for traffic or as close as
practical to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when passing
another vehicle stopped in that lane. When using City Streets a snowmobile may
travel at a speed no greater than ten (10) miles an hour. Snowmobiles may cross
Main Avenue at right angles but may not travel along the Avenue.
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D. A snowmobile may make a direct crossing of a street or highway if:
1. the crossing is made at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the
direction of the highway and at a place where no obstruction prevents a
quick and safe crossing; and
2. the snowmobile is brought to a complete stop before crossing the shoulder
or main traveled way of the highway; and
3. the operator yields the right-of-way to all oncoming traffic and pedestrians
which constitute an immediate hazard; and
4. in crossing a divided highway, the crossing is made only at an intersection
of such highway with another public street or highway; and
5. the snowmobile must have both front and rear lights on.
E. Notwithstanding any prohibition in this Chapter, a snowmobile may be operated
on a public thoroughfare in an emergency during the period of time when and at
locations where snow upon the roadway renders travel by automobile impractical.
11-2-4:
OPERATION GENERALLY: Except as otherwise specifically permitted
and authorized, no person may operate a snowmobile within the limits of
the City:
A. On any sidewalk or pedestrian trail unless specifically designated for snowmobiling
within the City.
B. On City Streets at a speed exceeding ten (10) miles per hour.
C. On Main Avenue except to cross at right angles.
D. On any school property, church property or within a cemetery.
E. No snowmobile may be operated within the boundaries of the Lakefront
Community Park of the City other than on trails designated within the park for
snowmobile traffic. (Ord. 74-6, 5-6-74)
F. On a public bike path, unless it is posted with signs authorizing the use of
snowmobiles.
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G. On property not owned by the person, without the written or oral permission of
the owner, occupant, or lessee of such lands. Written permission may be given
by a posted notice of any kind or description that the owner, occupant, or lessee
prefers, so long as it specifies the kind of vehicles allowed such as by saying
"Snowmobiles Allowed," or other words substantially similar.
H. At any place in a careless, reckless, or negligent manner so as to endanger the
person or property of another or to cause injury or damage thereto.
I. Without a lighted head and taillight.
J. In any tree nursery or planting in a manner which damages or destroys growing
stock.
K. Except in a health related emergency, to tow any person or thing on a public street
or highway except through the use of a rigid tow bar attached to the rest of the
snowmobile.
L. At a speed greater than ten (10) miles an hour when within one hundred (100) feet
of any lakeshore, person, ice houses or skating rinks; nor shall operation be
permitted within one hundred (100) feet of any sliding area nor where the
operation would conflict with the lawful use of property or would endanger other
persons or property.
M. In a manner so as to create a loud, unnecessary or unusual noise which disturbs,
annoys or interferes with the peace and quiet of other persons.
N. There shall be no snowmobiling between the hours of eleven o'clock p.m. (11 :00
p.m.) through seven o'clock a.m. (7:00 a.m.), except that on Friday and Saturday
evenings and New Year's Eve evening, snowmobiling shall be allowed until two
o'clock a.m. (2:00 a.m.) of the following day. (Ord. 73-22, 12-17-73)
11-2-5:
EQUIPMENT: No person may operate a snowmobile any place within the
City unless it is equipped with the following:
A.
Standard muffler which is in good working order which blends the exhaust noise
into the overall snowmobile noise and is in constant operation to prevent excessive
or unusual noise as set forth in Minnesota Rules Chapter 6100.5700, Subpart 5.
No person shall use a muffler cutout, by-pass, straight pipe or similar device on
the snowmobile motor; and the exhaust system shall not emit or produce a sharp
popping or crackling sound. This requirement shall not apply in the case of an
organized race or similar competitive event as provided under Minnesota Statutes,
Section 84.871.
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B. Brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold the snowmobile
under any conditions of operation.
C. At least one (1) head lamp having a minimum candle power of sufficient intensity
to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 100 feet ahead during hours
of darkness under normal atmospheric conditions. Such head lamp shall be so
aimed that glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of an oncoming snowmobile
operator. At least one (1) red tail lamp, having a minimum candlepower of
sufficient intensity to exhibit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet
to the rear during hours of darkness under normal atmospheric conditions. The
light must be turned on and operating when the vehicle is operated.
D. Reflective material of a minimum area of at least 16 square inches mounted on
each side of the snowmobile forward of the handle bars so as to reflect or beam
light at a ninety (90) degree angle.
E. A safety or so-called "deadman" throttle in operating condition so that when
pressure is removed from the accelerator or throttle, the motor is disengaged from
the driving track.
F. Any sled, trailer, or other device being towed by a snowmobile during the hours
of darkness as described in Section 11- 2-4 Subdivision 0, under normal
atmospheric conditions must be equipped with unobstructed and visible reflective
materials mounted on each side and at the rear of the sled, trailer, or device which
has at least the minimum intensity values set forth in Minnesota Rules 6100.5700,
Subpart 2, item B.
11-2-6:
OPERATION BY A MINOR:
A. No person under 14 years of age may operate a snowmobile on streets, or
highways or make a direct crossing of a street or highway within the City.
B. A person 14 years or older but less than 18 years of age may operate a
snowmobile on streets, or highways as permitted under this Chapter and make a
direct crossing of a street or highway only if said operator has in immediate
possession a valid snowmobile safety certificate issued by the Commissioner of
Natural Resources or a valid motor vehicle operator's license issued by the
Commissioner of Public Safety or the drivers license authority of another state.
C. It is unlawful for the owner of a snowmobile to permit the snowmobile to be
operated contrary to the provisions of this Chapter.
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11-2-7:
SIGNAL FROM OFFICER TO STOP: No person may operate a
snowmobile in the City of Prior Lake after having received a visual or
audible signal from any law enforcement officer to come to a stop, to:
A. Operate a snowmobile in willful or wanton disregard of such signal, or
B. Interfere with or endanger the law enforcement officer or any other person or
vehicle, or
C. Increase speed or attempt to flee or elude the officer.
11-2-8:
11-2-9:
11-2-10:
11-2-11:
11-2-12:
11-2-13:
LEAVING SNOWMOBILE UNATTENDED: No person may leave a
snowmobile in a public place without first locking the ignition, removing
the key and taking the same with them.
CHASING ANIMALS FORBIDDEN: No person may intentionally drive,
chase, run over or kill any animal, wild or domestic, with a snowmobile.
OPERATION OF SNOWMOBILES WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE
OF ALCOHOL OR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE: It is a violation of
state law for any person to operate or to be in physical control of any
snowmobile in the City while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled
substance or under the influence of a combination of a alcohol and a
controlled substance. The definition and regulatory provisions of Minnesota
Statutes Chapters 169 and 84 are hereby incorporated herein and adopted
by reference, including the penalty provisions thereof.
EXEMPTIONS: Licensed peace officers shall be exempt from the
restrictions of this Chapter while operating a snowmobile in the proper
performance of their duties.
ENFORCEMENT: The Scott County Sheriff's Department and persons
selected and trained by the Police Department shall be responsible for the
enforcement of this Chapter. (Ord. 72-19, 11-6-72)
PENAL TY: Any person who violates the terms of this Chapter shall, upon
conviction thereof, be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not
exceeding seven hundred dollars ($700.00), or by imprisonment for a
period not exceeding ninety (90) days, or both. (Ord. 72-19, 11-6-72; amd.
1979 Code)
SECTION 2. This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and
publication.
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ADOPfED this b day of J:lIlazrt ,19~by the City Council of the
City of Prior Lake.
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CITY OF PRIOR LAKE
~ -~.
By: ~ ~
dia Andren, Mayor --
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