2023 New York Laws › PAR - Parks, recreation and historic preservation › Title D - Snowmobiles › Article 25 - Control Provisions › 25.17 - Equipment.

§  25.17  Equipment.  1. All snowmobiles operating within the state of
New York shall be equipped with:
(a) Head lights. At least  one  white  or  amber  head-lamp  having  a
minimum  candlepower  of  sufficient  intensity  to  reveal  persons and
vehicles at a distance of at least one hundred feet ahead  during  hours
of darkness under normal atmospheric conditions.
(b)   Tail  light.  At  least  one  red  tail-lamp  having  a  minimum
candlepower of sufficient intensity  to  exhibit  a  red  light  plainly
visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear during hours of
darkness under normal atmospheric conditions.
(c) Brakes. A brake system in good mechanical condition.
(d)  Reflector  material.  Reflector  material  of  a  minimum area of
sixteen square inches mounted on each side of the cowling.  Registration
numbers  must  be reflectorized, and such numbers or decorative material
may be included in computing the required sixteen square inch area.
(e) Mufflers. An adequate muffler system in good working condition. On
and after June first, nineteen seventy-two, no  snowmobile  manufactured
after June first, nineteen seventy-two shall be sold or offered for sale
unless  it  is  equipped in such a way as to limit noise produced by the
snowmobile to not more than eighty-two decibels as measured on  the  "A"
scale  at fifty feet. On and after June first, nineteen seventy-five, no
such snowmobile manufactured after  June  first,  nineteen  seventy-five
shall be sold or offered for sale unless it is equipped in such a way as
to limit noise produced by the snowmobile to not more than seventy-eight
decibels  on  such  scale.  On and after June first, nineteen eighty, no
such snowmobile manufactured after June first, nineteen eighty, shall be
sold or offered for sale unless it is equipped in such a way as to limit
noise produced by the snowmobile to not more than seventy-three decibels
on such scale. On or after November  first,  two  thousand  thirteen,  a
person  shall not operate a snowmobile unless the snowmobile is equipped
with a muffler in good working order  and  in  constant  operation  from
which  noise  emission  does not exceed either seventy-eight decibels at
fifty feet at full throttle, as measured using a generally accepted test
for  a  snowmobile  manufactured  after  July  first,  nineteen  hundred
seventy-seven   and   sold  or  offered  for  sale  in  this  state,  or
eighty-eight decibels,  as  measured  at  four  meters  from  an  inline
position  from  the  exhaust  and  four  thousand  rpm using a generally
accepted test for using a stationary snowmobile manufactured after  July
first,  nineteen  hundred  eighty  and  sold or offered for sale in this
state. Should  the  federal  government  adopt  snowmobile  noise  level
standards  different  from those contained in this paragraph and require
that the state conform thereto, the commissioner shall be authorized  to
adopt  rules and regulations superseding the noise level requirements of
this  paragraph  to  achieve  compliance  with  federal  standards.   No
snowmobile  shall  be  modified  by  any person in any manner that shall
amplify or otherwise increase total noise emission to  a  level  greater
than   that   emitted  by  the  snowmobile  as  originally  constructed,
regardless of date of manufacture.
2. Inspection and  testing.  The  commissioner  may  adopt  rules  and
regulations with respect to the inspection and testing of snowmobiles.
3. No person shall have for sale, sell or offer for sale in this state
any  snowmobile which fails to comply with the provisions of subdivision
one, or which does not comply with the specifications for such equipment
required by the rules and regulations  of  the  commissioner  after  the
effective date of such rules and regulations.
4.  No  person  shall operate an authorized ambulance, police or civil
defense snowmobile as an emergency vehicle unless it  is  equipped  with
one  or  more  lighted,  red or combination red or white lights which is

revolving, rotating, flashing, oscillating or  constantly  moving  light
having  a  minimum  candle  power  of sufficient intensity to be plainly
visible from a distance of five hundred feet  in  all  directions  under
normal atmospheric conditions.
5.  No  person  shall operate a snowmobile or ride as a passenger on a
snowmobile unless he or she is wearing a protective  helmet  of  a  type
approved  by  the  commissioner,  except  when operating a snowmobile or
riding as a  passenger  on  private  lands  owned  by  the  operator  or
passenger, or to which the operator or passenger has a contractual right
other  than  as  a  member  of  a  club or association, and for which no
compensation is paid to the owner with respect to such operation.