HomeMy WebLinkAbout902: Snowmobiles Motor Vehicles and Traffic
City of Prior Lake
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SECTION 902
SNOWMOBILES
SUBSECTIONS:
902.100: DEFINITIONS
902.200: APPLICATION OF OTHER LAWS
902.300: OPERATION ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS
902.400: OPERATION GENERALLY
902.500: EQUIPMENT
902.600: OPERATION BY A MINOR
902.700 SIGNAL FROM OFFICER TO STOP
902.800: LEAVING SNOWMOBILE UNATTENDED
902.900: CHASING ANIMALS FORBIDDEN
902.1000: OPERATION OF SNOWMOBILES WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
902.1100: EXEMPTIONS
902.1200: ENFORCEMENT
902.1300 PENALTY
902.100: DEFINITIONS: The following terms as used in this Section shall have the
meanings stated.
Person: 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.
Operator: 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.
902.200: APPLICATION OF OTHER LAWS: 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. 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.
902.300: OPERATION ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS:
902.301 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.
902.302 County Roads. Snowmobiles may be operated in the ditch along the outside
bank but may not be operated not 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.
902.303 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 not greater than ten (10) miles an hour.
Snowmobiles may cross Main Avenue at right angles but may not travel along the
Avenue.
902.304 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
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constitute an immediate hazard; and
(4) In crossing a divided highway, the crossing is made only at an intersection or such
highway with another public street or highway; and
(5) The snowmobile must have both front and rear lights on.
902.305 Notwithstanding any prohibition in this Section, 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.
902.400: OPERATION GENERALLY: Except as otherwise specifically permitted and
authorized, no person may operate a snowmobile within the limits of the City:
➢ On any sidewalk or pedestrian trail unless specifically designated for
snowmobiling within the City.
➢ On City Streets at a speed exceeding ten (10) miles per hour.
➢ On Main Avenue except to cross at right angles.
➢ On any school property, church property or within a cemetery.
➢ No snowmobile may be operated within the boundaries of Lakefront or
Sand Point Community Parks of the City other than on trails, roadways or
in parking areas designated within the park for snowmobile traffic. (Amend
Ord.109-13, publ. 10/31/09)
➢ On a public bike path, unless it is posted with signs authorizing the use of
snowmobiles.
➢ 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 works
substantially similar.
➢ 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.
➢ Without a lighted head and tail light.
➢ In any tree nursery or planting in a manner which damages or destroys
growing stock.
➢ 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.
➢ 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.
➢ 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.
➢ 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
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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.
902.500: EQUIPMENT: No person may operate a snowmobile any place within the City
unless it is equipped with the following:
(1) 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 all 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.
(2) Brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold the snowmobile
under any conditions of operation.
(3) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) 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.
(6) Any sled, trailer, or other device being towed by a snowmobile during the hours of
darkness as described in subsection 902.400, 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.
902.600: OPERATION BY A MINOR: 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. It is unlawful for the owner of a snowmobile to permit the
snowmobile to be operated contrary to the provisions of this Section.
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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 Section 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.
902.700: 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:
➢ Operate a snowmobile in willful or wanton disregard of such signal, or
➢ Interfere with or endanger the law enforcement officer or any other person
or vehicle, or
➢ Increase speed or attempt to flee or elude the officer.
902.800: 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.
902.900: CHASING ANIMALS FORBIDDEN: No person may intentionally drive, chase, run
over or kill any animal, wild or domestic, with a snowmobile.
902.1000: 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.
902.1100: EXEMPTIONS: Licensed peace officers shall be exempt from the restrictions of
this Section while operating a snowmobile in the proper performance of their
duties.
902.1200: ENFORCEMENT: The Scott County Sheriff's Department and persons selected
and trained by the Police Department shall be responsible for the enforcement of
this Section.
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902.1300: PENALTY: Any person who violates the terms of this Section shall, upon
conviction thereof, be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished in
accordance with the penalties established by Minnesota Statutes. (Amend Ord.
109-13, publ. 10/31/09)
(This Space Intentionally Blank
For Future Amendments)