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84.777 OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE USE OF STATE LANDS RESTRICTED.
    Subdivision 1. Designated trails. (a) Except as otherwise allowed by law or rules adopted
by the commissioner, effective June 1, 2003, notwithstanding sections 84.787 to 84.805 and
84.92 to 84.929, the use of off-highway vehicles is prohibited on state land administered by the
commissioner of natural resources, and on county-administered forest land within the boundaries
of a state forest, except on roads and trails specifically designated and posted by the commissioner
for use by off-highway vehicles.
    (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to county-administered land within a state forest if the
county board adopts a resolution that modifies restrictions on the use of off-highway vehicles on
county-administered land within the forest.
    Subd. 2. Off-highway vehicle seasons. (a) The commissioner shall prescribe seasons for
off-highway vehicle use on state forest lands. Except for designated forest roads, a person must
not operate an off-highway vehicle on state forest lands outside of the seasons prescribed under
this paragraph.
    (b) The commissioner may designate and post winter trails on state forest lands for use by
off-highway vehicles.
    (c) For the purposes of this subdivision, "state forest lands" means forest lands under the
authority of the commissioner as defined in section 89.001, subdivision 13, and lands managed
by the commissioner under section 282.011.
    Subd. 3. Mapped trails. (a) Except as provided in sections 84.926 and 84.928, after
completion of official department off-highway vehicle maps for the area, a person must not operate
an off-highway vehicle on state land that is not mapped for the type of off-highway vehicle. This
paragraph does not apply to state forest land north of U.S. Highway 2 until after June 30, 2009.
    (b) This subdivision does not apply to a forest access route in a managed forest north of U.S.
Highway 2 that the commissioner has not designated as a road or trail. Forest access routes
will not be signed or maintained and will not be included on published user maps of the forest.
Off-highway vehicle operation on forest access routes is subject to the prohibitions on causing
erosion, rutting, damage to trees or crops, and construction of unauthorized trails contained in
Minnesota Rules. Damaged routes are subject to closure to off-highway vehicle use.
    Subd. 4. Exemption from rulemaking. Determinations of the commissioner under this
section may be by written order published in the State Register and are exempt from the
rulemaking provisions of chapter 14. Section 14.386 does not apply.
History: 2003 c 128 art 1 s 21; 2007 c 57 art 1 s 24; 2007 c 131 art 1 s 3

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes