1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to highways; allowing two-way operation of 
  1.3             snowmobiles on either side of highway right-of-way 
  1.4             when authorized by commissioner of transportation; 
  1.5             amending Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 84.87, 
  1.6             subdivision 1. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 84.87, 
  1.9   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.10     Subdivision 1.  [OPERATION ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS.] (a) No 
  1.11  person shall operate a snowmobile upon the roadway, shoulder, or 
  1.12  inside bank or slope of any trunk, county state-aid, or county 
  1.13  highway in this state and, in the case of a divided trunk or 
  1.14  county highway, on the right-of-way between the opposing lanes 
  1.15  of traffic, except as provided in sections 84.81 to 84.90.  No 
  1.16  person shall operate a snowmobile within the right-of-way of any 
  1.17  trunk, county state-aid, or county highway between the hours of 
  1.18  one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, 
  1.19  except on the right-hand side of such right-of-way and in the 
  1.20  same direction as the highway traffic on the nearest lane of the 
  1.21  roadway adjacent thereto.  No snowmobile shall be operated at 
  1.22  any time within the right-of-way of any interstate highway or 
  1.23  freeway within this state. 
  1.24     (b) Notwithstanding any provision of paragraph (a) to the 
  1.25  contrary, but under conditions prescribed by the commissioner of 
  1.26  transportation, the commissioner of transportation may allow 
  2.1   two-way operation of snowmobiles on either side of the trunk 
  2.2   highway right-of-way where the commissioner of transportation 
  2.3   determines that two-way operation will not endanger users of the 
  2.4   trunk highway or riders of the snowmobiles using the trail. 
  2.5      (b) (c) A snowmobile may make a direct crossing of a street 
  2.6   or highway at any hour of the day provided: 
  2.7      (1) the crossing is made at an angle of approximately 90 
  2.8   degrees to the direction of the highway and at a place where no 
  2.9   obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing; and 
  2.10     (2) the snowmobile is brought to a complete stop before 
  2.11  crossing the shoulder or main traveled way of the highway; and 
  2.12     (3) the driver yields the right-of-way to all oncoming 
  2.13  traffic which constitutes an immediate hazard; and 
  2.14     (4) in crossing a divided highway, the crossing is made 
  2.15  only at an intersection of such highway with another public 
  2.16  street or highway; and 
  2.17     (5) if the crossing is made between the hours of one-half 
  2.18  hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise or in 
  2.19  conditions of reduced visibility, only if both front and rear 
  2.20  lights are on; and 
  2.21     (6) a snowmobile may be operated upon a bridge, other than 
  2.22  a bridge that is part of the main traveled lanes of an 
  2.23  interstate highway, when required for the purpose of avoiding 
  2.24  obstructions to travel when no other method of avoidance is 
  2.25  possible; provided the snowmobile is operated in the extreme 
  2.26  right-hand lane, the entrance to the roadway is made within 100 
  2.27  feet of the bridge and the crossing is made without undue delay. 
  2.28     (c) (d) No snowmobile shall be operated upon a public 
  2.29  street or highway unless it is equipped with at least one 
  2.30  headlamp, one tail lamp, each of minimum candlepower as 
  2.31  prescribed by rules of the commissioner, reflector material of a 
  2.32  minimum area of 16 square inches mounted on each side forward of 
  2.33  the handle bars, and with brakes each of which shall conform to 
  2.34  standards prescribed by rule of the commissioner pursuant to the 
  2.35  authority vested in the commissioner by section 84.86, and each 
  2.36  of which shall be subject to approval of the commissioner of 
  3.1   public safety. 
  3.2      (d) (e) A snowmobile may be operated upon a public street 
  3.3   or highway other than as provided by clause (b) paragraph (c) in 
  3.4   an emergency during the period of time when and at locations 
  3.5   where snow upon the roadway renders travel by automobile 
  3.6   impractical. 
  3.7      (e) (f) All provisions of chapters 169 and 169A shall apply 
  3.8   to the operation of snowmobiles upon streets and highways, 
  3.9   except for those relating to required equipment, and except 
  3.10  those which by their nature have no application.  Section 169.09 
  3.11  applies to the operation of snowmobiles anywhere in the state or 
  3.12  on the ice of any boundary water of the state. 
  3.13     (f) (g) Any sled, trailer, or other device being towed by a 
  3.14  snowmobile must be equipped with reflective materials as 
  3.15  required by rule of the commissioner.