Part 2. Snowmobiles and All Terrain Vehicles
702.01. Definitions. For the purpose of this part, the terms
defined herein shall have the following meaning ascribed to them.
a.
Snowmobile: Means a self-propelled
vehicle designed for travel on snow or ice steered by skis or runners.
b. All terrain
vehicle (ATV): Refers to trail bikes,
mini bikes, and amphibious vehicles and similar devices other than snowmobiles
used at least partially for travel on natural terrain but not special mobile equipment designed in Minn. Stat.
168.11, Subd. 22.
c. Owner: Means a person, other than a lien
holder having the property in or title to snowmobile or ATV entitled to the use
or possession thereof.
d.
Operate: Means to ride in or on and
control the operation of a snowmobile or ATV.
e. Operator: Means every person who operates or is in actual physical control of a
snowmobile or ATV.
f. Deadman throttle or safety throttle: Means a device which, when pressure is
removed from the engine accelerator or throttle, causes the motor to be
disengaged from the driving mechanism.
g. Natural
terrain: Means areas other than roadways
or driveways (private or public), parking lots, and other areas the surface of
which has been intentionally modified for motor vehicle operation thereon.
702.02. Uses of snowmobiles and
ATV's permitted. Except as
herein specifically permitted and authorized, it is unlawful for any person to
operate a snowmobile or ATV not licensed as a motor vehicle within the limits
of the city:
a. On the portion of any right of way of any
public highway, street, road, trail, or alley used for motor vehicle travel,
except that a snowmobile may operate upon the most right hand lane of a
municipal street or alley and may in passing or making a left turn operate on
other lanes which are used for vehicle traffic in the same direction, for
purpose of going to or returning
from a non-highway area of permissible operation, by the most direct
route. Snowmobiles may also be operated
upon the ditch bottom or the outside
bank, of trunk, county state-aid, and county highways where such highways are
so configured within the corporate limits.
b. On a public sidewalk provided for pedestrian
travel.
c. On boulevards within any public right of way.
d. On private property of another without
specific permission of the owner or person in control of said property.
e. On any other public place except as may be
specifically permitted by other provisions of the city.
f. At a speed in excess of 10 miles per hour.
702.03. Crossing of streets or
highways. A snowmobile or
ATV not licensed as a motor vehicle may make a direct crossing of a street or
highway, except an interstate highway or freeway provided:
a. The crossing is made at an angle of
approximately 90 degrees to the direction of the street or highway and at a
place where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing.
c. The driver yields the right of way to all
on-coming traffic which constitutes an immediate hazard.
d. In crossing a divided street or highway, the
crossing is made only at an intersection
of such street or highway with another public street or highway.
e. If the crossing is made between the hours of
one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset or, in conditions of
reduced visibility, only if both front and rear lights are on.
702.05. Yielding right of way. No snowmobile shall enter any intersection
without yielding the right of way to any vehicles or pedestrians at the
intersection, or so close to the intersection as to constitute an immediate
hazard.
702.06. Operation: persons under 18. No person under 14 years of age shall operate
on streets or the roadway surface of highway or make a direct crossing of a
trunk, county state aid, county highway, or city streets as the operator of a
snowmobile. A person 14 years of age or
older, but less than 18 years of age, may operate a snowmobile on street and
highways as permitted under this ordinance and make a direct crossing of such
street and highway only if the person has in his or her immediate possession a
valid snowmobile safety certificate issued pursuant to Minn. Stat. 84.872.
702.07. Uses specifically
prohibited. It is unlawful
for any person to operate a snowmobile, ATV not licensed for highway use, or
ATV licensed for highway use when operating on natural terrain within the
limits of the city:
a. At any place while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs as designed in Minn.
Stat. 169.121 which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
b. At a rate of speed greater than reasonable or
proper under all surrounding circumstances.
c. At any place in a careless, reckless, or
negligent manner or heedlessly in disregard
of the right or safety of others, or in a manner so as to endanger to be likely
to endanger or cause injury or damage to any person or property.
d. During the hours from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00
a.m. of any day, closer than 100 feet to any dwelling which is usually occupied
by one or more persons.
e. So as to tow any person or thing except
through use of a rigid tow bar attached to the rear of the snowmobile or ATV.
f. Within 100 feet of any fisherman, pedestrian,
skating rink, or sliding area where the operation would conflict with use or
endanger other persons or property.
702.08. Equipment required. It is unlawful for any person to operate a
snowmobile or ATV any place within the limits of the city unless it is equipped
with the following:
a. Standard mufflers which are properly attached
and which reduce the noise of operation of the motor to the minimum necessary
for operation. No person shall use a
muffler cutout, by-pass straight pipe or similar device on a snowmobile or ATV
motor.
b. Brakes adequate to control the movement of
and to stop and hold the snowmobile or ATV under any condition of operation.
c. A safety or so-called "deadman"
throttle in operating condition.
d. When operated between the hours of one-half
hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise or at time or reduced
visibility, at least one clear lamp attached to the front, with sufficient
intensity to reveal persons an vehicles at a distance of at least 100 feet ahead during the hours of darkness and
under normal atmospheric conditions. Such headlamp shall be so
aimed that glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of an oncoming snowmobile
or ATV operator. It shall also be
equipped with at least one red tail lamp having a minimum candlepower of
sufficient intensity to exhibit a red light plainly visible from a distance of
500 feet to the rear during hours of darkness under normal atmospheric
conditions.
702.09. Ignition lock. Every person leaving a snowmobile or ATV on a
public place or way shall lock the ignition, remove the key, and take the same.
702.10. Emergencies, operation
permitted. Notwithstanding any prohibitions in this part of the ordinance, a
snowmobile may be operated on a public
thoroughfare in an emergency during the period of time and at locations where
snow upon the roadway renders travel by automobile impractical.
702.11. Uses prohibited: animals. It is unlawful to intentionally drive, chase,
run over, or kill any animal with a snowmobile or ATV.