1998 Minnesota Statutes

     84.872 Youthful snowmobile operators; prohibitions. 

    Subdivision 1.    Restrictions on operation.  
 Notwithstanding anything in section 84.87 to the contrary, no 
 person under 14 years of age shall make a direct crossing of a 
 trunk, county state-aid, or county highway as the operator of a 
 snowmobile, or operate a snowmobile upon a street or highway 
 within a municipality.  A person 14 years of age or older, but 
 less than 18 years of age, may make a direct crossing of a 
 trunk, county state-aid, or county highway only if the person 
 has in immediate possession a valid snowmobile safety 
 certificate issued by the commissioner or a valid motor vehicle 
 operator's license issued by the commissioner of public safety 
 or the driver's license authority of another state.  No person 
 under the age of 14 years shall operate a snowmobile on any 
 public land, public easements, or water or grant-in-aid trail 
 unless accompanied by one of the following listed persons on the 
 same or an accompanying snowmobile, or on a device towed by the 
 same or an accompanying snowmobile:  the person's parent, legal 
 guardian, or other person 18 years of age or older.  However, a 
 person 12 years of age or older may operate a snowmobile on 
 public lands, public easements, and waters or a grant-in-aid 
 trail if the person has in immediate possession a valid 
 snowmobile safety certificate issued by the commissioner.  

    Subd. 1a.    Helmet required.  (a) No person under the 
 age of 18 shall operate or ride a snowmobile in this state 
 without wearing protective headgear that complies with standards 
 established by the commissioner of public safety. 

    (b) The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to 
 persons during their participation in a parade that has been 
 granted a permit or other official authorization by a local unit 
 of government or to a person operating a snowmobile on land that 
 is owned by the person or the person's parents, grandparents, 
 siblings, uncles, or aunts. 

    Subd. 2.    Owner's duties.  It is unlawful for any 
 person who is the owner or in lawful control of a snowmobile to 
 permit the snowmobile to be operated contrary to the provisions 
 of this section.  

    Subd. 3.    Reporting convictions; suspensions.  When 
 the judge of a juvenile court, or any of its duly authorized 
 agents, shall determine that any person, while less than 18 
 years of age, has violated the provisions of sections 84.81 to 
 84.88, or any other state or local law or ordinance regulating 
 the operation of snowmobiles, the judge, or duly authorized 
 agent, shall immediately report this determination to the 
 commissioner and may recommend the suspension of the person's 
 snowmobile safety certificate.  The commissioner is hereby 
 authorized to suspend the certificate, without a hearing. 

    HIST: 1969 c 695 s 10; 1971 c 577 s 9; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 89 s 
 1; 1993 c 184 s 2; 1994 c 623 art 1 s 9; 1994 c 632 art 2 s 20; 
 1997 c 226 s 9