Wis. Stat. § 350.10 — WI Code / Chapter 350 / Section 350.10
Miscellaneous provisions for snowmobile operation.
Status: in_force

(1) No person shall operate a snowmobile in the following manner:

(a) At a rate of speed that is unreasonable or improper under the circumstances.

(b) In any careless way so as to endanger the person or property of another.

(c) Without complying with all stop signs, yield signs or other regulatory signs established by rule under s. 350.13 that are located along snowmobile routes, snowmobile trails or other established snowmobile corridors that are open to the public.

(d) In such a way that the exhaust and engine noise exceeds the applicable noise level standard specified in s. 350.095 (2) (c) or (d) .

(f) On the private property of another without the consent of the owner or lessee. Failure to post private property does not imply consent for snowmobile use.

(fm) On public property that is posted as closed to snowmobile operation or on which the operation of a snowmobile is prohibited by law.

(g) Between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 7 a.m. when within 150 feet of a dwelling at a rate of speed exceeding 10 miles per hour.

(gm) During the hours of darkness at a rate of speed exceeding 55 miles per hour.

(h) In any forest nursery, planting area or on public lands posted or reasonably identified as an area of forest or plant reproduction when growing stock may be damaged.

(i) On the frozen surface of public waters within 100 feet of a person not in or upon a vehicle or within 100 feet of a fishing shanty unless operated at a speed of 10 miles per hour or less.

(j) On a slide, ski or skating area except for the purpose of serving the area, crossing at places where marked or after stopping and yielding the right-of-way.

(k) On or across a cemetery, burial ground, school or church property without consent of the owner.

(L) On the lands of an operating airport or landing facility except for personnel in performance of their duties or with consent.

(m) On Indian lands without the consent of the tribal governing body or Indian owner. For purposes of this paragraph, “Indian lands” means lands owned by the United States and held for the use or benefit of Indian tribes, bands, or individual Indians and lands owned by Indian tribes, bands, or individual Indians which are subject to restrictions on alienation. Failure to post Indian lands does not imply consent for snowmobile use. Any other motor-driven craft or vehicle principally manufactured for off-highway use shall at all times have the consent of the owner before operation of such craft or vehicle on private lands.

(2) Subsection (1) (c) does not apply to a person operating a snowmobile on land under the management and control of the person’s immediate family.

(3) Subsection (1) (gm) does not apply to a person operating a snowmobile while competing in a sanctioned race or derby.

(4)

(a) Subject to pars. (b) to (e) , sub. (1) (c) , (g) , (gm) , and (i) do not apply to the operator of a patrol snowmobile when responding to an emergency call, engaged in an emergency, or in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law.

(b) Except as provided in par. (c) , par. (a) applies only if the operator of a patrol snowmobile is giving an audible signal by means of a siren and a visual signal by means of at least one flashing, oscillating, or rotating red light or, if the patrol snowmobile is being operated by a law enforcement officer, a blue light and a red light, both of which are flashing, oscillating, or rotating.

(c) A law enforcement officer operating a patrol snowmobile may exceed a speed limit without giving audible or visual signals if the officer is obtaining evidence of a speed violation or responding to what the officer reasonably believes is a felony in progress and the officer reasonably believes any of the following:

1. Knowledge of the officer’s presence may endanger the safety of a victim or other person.

2. Knowledge of the officer’s presence may cause the suspected violator to evade apprehension.

3. Knowledge of the officer’s presence may cause the suspected violator to destroy evidence of a suspected felony or may otherwise result in the loss of evidence of a suspected felony.

4. Knowledge of the officer’s presence may cause the suspected violator to cease the commission of a suspected felony before the officer obtains sufficient evidence to establish grounds for arrest.

(d) The operator of a patrol snowmobile may proceed past a red light, stop signal, or stop sign but only after slowing down as necessary for safe operation.

(e) The privileges granted to the operator of a patrol snowmobile under this paragraph do not relieve the operator from the duty to drive or ride with due regard under the circumstances for the safety of all persons or provide immunity from liability for the consequences of the operator’s reckless disregard for the safety of others.

History: 1971 c. 219 , 277 ; 1981 c. 79 s. 17 ; 1983 a. 459 ; 1987 a. 399 ; 1997 a. 34 ; 2005 a. 209 , 210 ; 2007 a. 29 ; 2009 a. 252 , 389 ; 2025 a. 114 .