SF 1296

1st Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to highways; allowing two-way operation of
snowmobiles on either side of local road right-of-way
when authorized by local road authorities; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 84.87, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 84.87,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Operation on streets and highways.

(a) No
person shall operate a snowmobile upon the roadway, shoulder, or
inside bank or slope of any trunk, county state-aid, or county
highway in this state and, in the case of a divided trunk or
county highway, on the right-of-way between the opposing lanes
of traffic, except as provided in sections 84.81 to 84.90. No
person shall operate a snowmobile within the right-of-way of any
trunk, county state-aid, or county highway between the hours of
one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise,
except on the right-hand side of such right-of-way and in the
same direction as the highway traffic on the nearest lane of the
roadway adjacent thereto. No snowmobile shall be operated at
any time within the right-of-way of any interstate highway or
freeway within this state.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of paragraph (a) to the
contrary deleted text begin , but deleted text end new text begin :
new text end

new text begin (1) new text end under conditions prescribed by the commissioner of
transportation, the commissioner of transportation may allow
two-way operation of snowmobiles on either side of the trunk
highway right-of-way where the commissioner of transportation
determines that two-way operation will not endanger users of the
trunk highway or riders of the snowmobiles using the trail new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (2) under conditions prescribed by a local road authority
as defined in section 160.02, subdivision 25, the road authority
may allow two-way operation of snowmobiles on either side of the
right-of-way of a street or highway under the road authority's
jurisdiction, where the road authority determines that two-way
operation will not endanger users of the street or highway or
riders of the snowmobiles using the trail;
new text end

new text begin (3) the commissioner of transportation under clause (1) and
the local road authority under clause (2) shall notify the
commissioner of natural resources and the local law enforcement
agencies responsible for the streets or highways of the
locations of two-way snowmobile trails authorized under this
paragraph; and
new text end

new text begin (4) two-way snowmobile trails authorized under this
paragraph shall be posted for two-way operation at the
authorized locations new text end .

(c) A snowmobile may make a direct crossing of a street or
highway at any hour of the day provided:

(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 driver yields the right-of-way to all oncoming
traffic which constitutes 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) if the crossing is made between the hours of one-half
hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise or in
conditions of reduced visibility, only if both front and rear
lights are on; and

(6) a snowmobile may be operated upon a bridge, other than
a bridge that is part of the main traveled lanes of an
interstate highway, when required for the purpose of avoiding
obstructions to travel when no other method of avoidance is
possible; provided the snowmobile is operated in the extreme
right-hand lane, the entrance to the roadway is made within 100
feet of the bridge and the crossing is made without undue delay.

(d) No snowmobile shall be operated upon a public street or
highway unless it is equipped with at least one headlamp, one
tail lamp, each of minimum candlepower as prescribed by rules of
the commissioner, reflector material of a minimum area of 16
square inches mounted on each side forward of the handle bars,
and with brakes each of which shall conform to standards
prescribed by rule of the commissioner pursuant to the authority
vested in the commissioner by section 84.86, and each of which
shall be subject to approval of the commissioner of public
safety.

(e) A snowmobile may be operated upon a public street or
highway other than as provided by paragraph (c) in an emergency
during the period of time when and at locations where snow upon
the roadway renders travel by automobile impractical.

(f) All provisions of chapters 169 and 169A shall apply to
the operation of snowmobiles upon streets and highways, except
for those relating to required equipment, and except those which
by their nature have no application. Section 169.09 applies to
the operation of snowmobiles anywhere in the state or on the ice
of any boundary water of the state.

(g) Any sled, trailer, or other device being towed by a
snowmobile must be equipped with reflective materials as
required by rule of the commissioner.