HF 1698

as introduced - 81st Legislature (1999 - 2000) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to snowmobiles; prescribing a speed limit for 
  1.3             snowmobiles in urban districts; authorizing cities to 
  1.4             establish speed limits greater or less than the 
  1.5             prescribed speed limit; amending Minnesota Statutes 
  1.6             1998, section 84.87, subdivision 2. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 84.87, 
  1.9   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.10     Subd. 2.  [OPERATION GENERALLY.] (a) It shall be unlawful 
  1.11  for any person to drive or operate any snowmobile in the 
  1.12  following unsafe or harassing ways: 
  1.13     (1) at a rate of speed greater than reasonable or proper 
  1.14  under all the surrounding circumstances; 
  1.15     (2) in a careless, reckless or negligent manner so as to 
  1.16  endanger the person or property of another or to cause injury or 
  1.17  damage thereto; 
  1.18     (3) (2) without a lighted head and taillight when required 
  1.19  for safety; or 
  1.20     (4) (3) in any tree nursery or planting in a manner which 
  1.21  damages or destroys growing stock. 
  1.22     (b) No person may drive or operate any snowmobile: 
  1.23     (1) at a rate of speed greater than reasonable or proper 
  1.24  under all the surrounding circumstances; and 
  1.25     (2) subject to the provisions of clause (1), in excess of 
  1.26  30 miles per hour within the limits of a city. 
  2.1      (c) Notwithstanding subdivision 3, a city may not impose a 
  2.2   speed limit on snowmobiles within the city's geographic limits 
  2.3   except as provided in this paragraph.  A city may by ordinance 
  2.4   establish a speed zone on a public trail or highway right-of-way 
  2.5   in an urban district as defined in section 169.01, subdivision 
  2.6   59, within the city's geographic limits and prescribe a speed 
  2.7   limit in that speed zone that is greater or less than the speed 
  2.8   limit prescribed in paragraph (b), clause (2).  A speed limit 
  2.9   authorized under this paragraph is effective only upon erection 
  2.10  by the city of signs designating the beginning and end of the 
  2.11  speed zone.