§ 3202 - Registration required; exceptions for governmental entities on land owned by operator, or with landowner consent - Vermont Statutes

§ 3202. Registration required; exceptions for governmental entities on land owned by operator, or with landowner consent

(a) Registration and decal required. A person shall not operate a snowmobile unless registered and numbered by the state of Vermont or other state or province and displays a valid Vermont trails maintenance assessment decal adjacent to the registration decal on the left side of the snowmobile in accordance with this chapter, except when operated:

(1) on the property of the owner of the snowmobile; or

(2) off the highway, in a ski area while being used for the purpose of packing snow or in rescue operations; or

(3) for official use by a federal, state, or municipal agency and only if the snowmobile is identified with the name or seal of the agency in a manner approved by the commissioner; or

(4) solely on privately-owned land when the operator has the written consent of the owner, or his or her agent, of the property; or

(5) on frozen bodies of water as designated by the agency of natural resources under the provisions of 10 V.S.A. § 2607. For purposes of this subdivision, a snowmobile shall not be required to display a trails maintenance assessment decal if not operating on a portion of the statewide snowmobile trails system. Liability insurance as provided for in subdivision 3206(b)(19) of this title and a valid registration decal are required; or

(6) for emergency use by fire service personnel.

(b) Registration period. The registration year for snowmobiles is from September 1 to August 31.

(c) Use of snowmobile on public or private lands. The registration of a snowmobile does not in and by itself constitute a license to cross or operate a snowmobile on public or private lands.

(d) Equipment condition and number. A snowmobile which does not comply with the provisions of section 3205 of this title or which has had its motor or serial number altered may not be registered by the commissioner.

(e) Special provisions for certain areas of operation; Massachusetts; New Hampshire; New York; Province of Quebec. A legally registered snowmobile, from any adjacent state or Province which provides the same reciprocity to Vermont, may enter this state by using a portion of the statewide snowmobile trail system, a public right-of-way open to snowmobiles, or private land that is posted open to snowmobiles, for a distance not to exceed three miles for the sole purpose of accessing the closest food, fuel, lodging and repair services, and, at a point three miles from the state line, trails shall be posted "VT TMA Required Beyond This Point". In Addison, Bennington and Rutland counties, licensed snowmobiles from reciprocating jurisdictions may operate from the New York border to Poultney village via corridor trail 4A (Delaware Hudson Rail Trail); from the New York border in Pawlet in the north to the New York border in the south in the town of Rupert (13 miles) along corridor trail 4; and from Lake Champlain at Benson Landing to the town of Benson via the local snowmobile trail.

(f) Reciprocity. The commissioner may grant registration reciprocity to snowmobiles registered in other states or provinces upon recommendation of the Governors Snowmobile Council and the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Inc.; or its successor. The granting of reciprocal areas of use as provided in this act is not contingent upon reciprocity being granted to Vermont registrants by other states and provinces.

(g) Essex County; operation into Canada and New Hampshire from Beecher Falls and Canaan; access to United States and Canadian customs and immigration and naturalization services. For the purpose of providing access to international customs services, a snowmobile may be operated on the so-called "Keyhole Trail," for a distance of approximately one-half mile from United States/Canadian Customs at Beecher Falls to the town line of Pittsburg, New Hampshire, and for a distance of approximately four miles via Vermont Association of Snow Travelers snowmobile corridor 105 to Canaan and to the West Stewartstown, New Hampshire bridge connecting to the New Hampshire 3A snowmobile trail on the Beecher Falls to Colebrook, New Hampshire railbed, and immediately adjacent areas for services, provided the snowmobile is registered in another state or province.

(h) Special events exemption from registration. The commissioner may authorize the temporary operation of snowmobiles not registered in this state on designated regular or temporary trails for special events, provided the snowmobile is registered in another state or province.

(i) Authority of natural resources board. Nothing in this section relating to operation on frozen bodies of water shall be construed to affect the authority of the natural resources board to regulate uses of public bodies of water. (Added 1983, No. 212 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1987, No. 126 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 1989, No. 126 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Feb. 23, 1990; 1991, No. 119 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Feb. 21, 1992; 1993, No. 1, § 1, eff. Feb. 19, 1993; 1993, No. 234 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1994; 1995, No. 64 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Jan. 30, 1996; 1997, No. 3, § 2, eff. March 8, 1997; 1999, No. 20, § 4; 1999, No. 144 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2001, No. 126 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. June 12, 2002; 2003, No. 115 (Adj. Sess.), § 75, eff. Jan. 31, 2005; No. 116 (Adj. Sess.), § 4.)