4.2. SR 01-16-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Snowmobilers urged to heed rules Record snow brings complaints The record amount of snow in December brought with it a record number of snowmobil- ing complaints. According to Sherburne County Sheriff Bruce Anderson, deputies are taking these calls seriously and the number of citations being written is on the rise. "Our main objective is to ensure the safety of the snow- mobilers while protecting the rights of the landowners. Following the rules will help to ensure the continued use of trails on private land," Anderson said. The bulk of complaints received by the department involve trespassing. According to deputies patrolling the trails, a single snowmobiler operating in restricted areas leaves a trail that acts as an invitation to those who follow later that same day. Anderson said trails are get- ting very hard packed and rough, leading snowmobilers to search for softer riding con- ditions. "Unfortunately, the fresh powder is often on private property. Some riders are encroaching further up into yards, agricultural land and private property to find softer riding conditions," he said. It is illegal to operate snow- mobiles on the inside slope, shoulder and roadway of state and county highways. It is per- missible to operate in the bot- Deputy Scott Fildes of the Sherburne County Sheriff's Department, on patrol at the tom of the ditch and the out- side slope. Anderson said the number of citations for improperly oper- ating on the roadways is also increasing. Riders are allowed to go up onto the road itself to get around an obstruction. Riders must then return immediately to bottom of the ditch and the outside edge. There has been confusion among some snowmobilers who ride on the shoulders because state law differenti- ates between township roads and county and state aid high- ways, according to Anderson. Sand Dunes State Forest near Zimmerman. (Submitted photo) "It is permissible to ride on a township road as long as you're traveling in the direc- tion of traffic and staying to the right. My recommenda- tion: If you question whether you're on a township road or a county or state aid highway, then use the bottom and out- side slope of the ditch," he said. There have also been a num- ber of citations issued concern- ing the operation of snowmo- biles at night. Anderson reminds riders that from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, all riders must oper- ate their snowmobiles in the same .direction as traffic. That law includes those areas where there is a trail on only one side of a roadway. Finally, all individuals born after 1979 must have a safety certificate to operate a snow- mobile. Classes to obtain such permits are typically offered through local community edu- cation offices in local school districts. For more information contact Deputy Scott Fildes of the Sherburne County Sheriff's Department at 241-2500.