2023 New York Laws › PAR - Parks, recreation and historic preservation › Title D - Snowmobiles › Article 25 - Control Provisions › 25.09 - Operation on Highways and Public Lands; Authorization by Governmental Agencies.

§  25.09  Operation  on  highways  and  public lands; authorization by
governmental agencies. 1. Highways. (a)  Highways  or  portions  thereof
upon  which  snowmobile  travel  is  permitted,  when  designated  by  a
governmental  agency  as  provided  in  section  25.05,  shall   be   so
designated,  in  the  case  of  state  highways  by  the state agency or
authority having jurisdiction to regulate traffic thereon, in  the  case
of  county  highways  within  a town outside of a city or village by the
town governing body, in the case of county highways  within  a  city  or
village  by the city or village governing body, and in the case of city,
town or village highways, by the city, town or village  governing  body,
respectively.  No  county  highway shall be designated without the prior
written  approval  of  the  county   superintendent   of   highways   or
commissioner  of  public  works,  as  the case may be. Such designations
shall be by regulation or order, if by a state agency or  authority  and
by local law or ordinance, if by a governing body.
(b)  Such  designated highways or portions thereof shall be identified
by markers in such manner as may be provided by rules and regulations of
the commissioner.
(c) All signs or markers shall be in conformity  with  the  manual  of
uniform  traffic control devices, and shall be erected at the expense of
the state or municipality, provided however, that the  municipality  may
accept  funds  or  contributions therefor from private persons, clubs or
associations interested in the promotion of snowmobiling.
(d) Any regulation, order, local law or ordinance which  designates  a
highway  or  portion  thereof which may be used for snowmobile operation
may  include  rules  and  impose  restrictions   and   conditions,   not
inconsistent with the provisions of this article, for the regulation and
safe  operation  of  snowmobiles  on  the  highways  so designated. Such
regulation or order of the commissioner of transportation or  local  law
or  ordinance  of  a  municipality  may establish the minimum age of the
operator  and  other  reasonable  requirements  for  operation  on  such
highways,  but may not require the operator of the snowmobile to possess
a motor vehicle license and may not impose a fee for  the  use  of  such
highways.
2.  Property  other than highways. In designating public lands, waters
and properties other than highways which  may  be  used  for  snowmobile
operations,  a  governmental  agency,  other  than  a  municipality,  by
regulation or order, and a municipality, by ordinance or local law,  may
impose restrictions and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions
of this article, for the regulation and safe operation of snowmobiles on
such  public  property,  such  as  travel on designated trails, proof of
liability insurance coverage for the  snowmobile,  minimum  age  of  the
operator, hours of operation, and other reasonable requirements, but may
not  require  the  operator of the snowmobile to possess a motor vehicle
operator's license or impose a fee for the use of such public  lands  or
waters  or  access  thereto,  except  the  usual charge, if any, for the
admission to such property, parking privileges or services provided.
3. Copies of all regulations, orders, local laws or ordinances adopted
by such governmental agencies shall be filed with the office.
4. The provisions of this section shall  not  apply  to  operation  as
emergency vehicle.