Registration Decal and below the headlight or, if the historic Permit Sticker • Snowmobile registrations are valid for three years, expiring on September 30 of the was not originally equipped with a headlight, on Snowmobile Regulations year indicated on the registration decal the forward half of the cowl above the footwell. and certificate. A historic snowmobile registration is $50. • Any time a registered snowmobile is sold to another person, the registration also must be transferred within 15 days of acquisition to A Person Shall Not Operate a Snowmobile: avoid monetary penalty. Contact the Secretary of State for transfer information. • While under the influence of drugs or alcohol. • A person who desires to operate a • At a rate of speed greater than is reasonable for snowmobile in this state shall obtain a existing conditions. (one on each side) snowmobile trail permit sticker. The • In a forest nursery or planting area or on public snowmobile trail permit sticker shall be valid lands posted or reasonably identifiable as an area for a period of one year, which begins of forest reproduction when growing stock may be Registration and Trail Permits October 1 and ends September 30 of the damaged or on any designated wild, wilderness or www.michigan.gov/snowmobiling following year. • A snowmobile shall not be operated natural area in the state. • The trail permit sticker shall be permanently • On the frozen surface of public within 100 unless the owner first obtains a certificate affixed and visible on the forward half of Legal Definition of a Snowmobile: of registration, registration decals and a trail feet of a person, including a skater, not in or “Snowmobile” means any motor-driven designed the snowmobile directly above or below for travel primarily on or of a type that utilizes permit sticker. the headlight. upon a snowmobile; or within 100 feet of a fishing shanty or shelter except at the minimum speed -type runners or skis, an endless belt tread, or any • The certificate of registration • Snowmobile trail permits are available combination of these or other similar means of contact must accompany the snowmobile and be from snowmobile dealers, DNR offices and retail required to maintain forward movement of the with the surface upon which it is operated, but is not a made available for inspection upon demand license agents throughout Michigan as well as snowmobile; or on an area that has been cleared vehicle that must be registered under the Michigan vehicle by a peace officer. on the E-License website at for ice skating, unless necessary for gaining code. (1949 PA 300, MCL 257.1 to 257.923) • If owned by a nonresident, before operation www.mdnr-elicense.com. access to the public . Equipment Required in Michigan, a snowmobile must display a • Within 100 feet of a dwelling between the hours valid registration from the operator’s home are exempt from registration Brakes: Each snowmobile must have a braking of midnight and 6 a.m. at a speed greater than the state or province, or be registered in Michigan. and having a trail permit if they are: operated system capable of: • State law requires that you affix the exclusively on lands owned or under the control minimum required to maintain forward movement registration decals issued to the snowmobile of the owner; used entirely in a safety education of the snowmobile. a. Stopping the snowmobile in not more than 40 to each side of the forward half of the program conducted by a certified snowmobile • Upon the land of another without consent of the feet from an initial speed of 20 miles per hour while cowl above the footwell. Decals must safety instructor; or exclusively operated in a owner or his agent, as required by the recreational the snowmobile travels on packed snow carrying an be exposed and visible. It is illegal to place special event of limited duration which is conducted trespass act. operator who weighs 175 pounds or more.

registration decals on the tunnel or footwell. according to a prearranged schedule under a • In an area open to public hunting during the Nov. b. Locking the snowmobile’s traction belt or belts. permit from the governmental unit having proper 15-30 firearm deer season from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. jurisdiction. In addition, a snowmobile used solely and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for transportation on the frozen surface of public Noise: Each snowmobile must be equipped with waters for is exempt from the trail sticker • While transporting a bow unless it is unstrung a muffler in good working order and in constant requirement, but must still be registered. or encased, or a firearm unless it is unloaded and operation from which noise emission does not securely encased. A person with a valid concealed exceed the current standards. To see the current Michigan law allows owners to register snowmobiles pistol license (CPL) may carry a loaded and snowmobile noise regulations, visit 26 or more years old and owned solely as a uncased pistol, but not a longarm such as a rifle or www.michigan.gov/snowmobiling. collector’s item as a historic snowmobile. Historic shotgun, on a snowmobile. snowmobiles are limited to occasional use and for • On or across a cemetery or burial ground, airport, Helmet: All those operating or riding on a participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, public or private parking lot, railroad or a railroad snowmobile must wear a Department of parades, and similar uses, including mechanical right-of-way within 100 feet of a sledding, or Transportation-approved crash helmet, except those testing. Unlike regular snowmobile registrations, operating on their own private property. skating area. the historic registration is non-expiring and cannot • To chase, pursue, worry or kill any wild bird It is illegal to place registration decals be transferred with the snowmobile to a new owner. Lighting: All snowmobiles must display a lighted or animal. on the tunnel or footwell. A trail permit is not required for snowmobiles headlight and taillight at all times during operation. registered as a historic snowmobile. A single historic However, the headlight shall not be covered with a snowmobile decal is issued and is placed above or lens cap of any color. Revised 9/24/2015 Driver License Information A Snowmobile May Operate on a Public Suspended Driver License You may not operate a snowmobile if your license Highway Under the Following Conditions: to operate an automobile has been suspended or revoked by Michigan or your home state. • A snowmobile may be operated on the right-of- way of a public highway (except a limited-access Points Assessed to Your Driver Record highway) if it is operated at the extreme right of A person convicted of manslaughter, negligent the open portion of the right-of-way and with the homicide or a felony resulting from snowmobile flow of traffic on the highway. operation shall have six points assessed against his/ • Snowmobiles operating on the shoulder of right- her driver record. A person convicted of operating a of-way must travel with the flow of vehicular snowmobile while under the influence of alcohol or traffic and in single file and shall not operate a controlled substance, or with an unlawful blood abreast except when overtaking or safely alcohol content, shall have six points assessed against passing another snowmobile. his/her driver record. A person who is convicted of • A snowmobile may be operated on the roadway operating a snowmobile while visibly impaired due or shoulder when necessary to cross a bridge to consumption of alcohol or a controlled substance or culvert if the snowmobile is brought to a shall have four points assessed against his/her complete stop before entering onto the roadway driver record. or shoulder and the operator yields the right- of-way to any approaching motor vehicle on Safety Education and Training the highway. • A snowmobile may be operated across a Snowmobile safety education training is required public highway, other than a limited-access for youthful operators as indicated below and highway, at right angles to the highway for recommended for snowmobile operators of the purpose of getting from one area to all ages. another when the operation can be done safely and another vehicle is not crossing the highway For information on snowmobile safety training, at the same time in the immediate area. An visit www.michigan.gov/recreationalsafety or operator must bring his/her snowmobile to a contact a DNR Service Center. complete stop before proceeding across the public highway and must yield the right-of-way Restrictions on Youthful Operations to all oncoming traffic. • Snowmobiles may be operated on the shoulder Those under the age of 12: of an open county roadway or its right-of-way, • May not operate a snowmobile without outside the corporate limits of a city or village, direct supervision of an adult, except on which is designated and marked for snowmobile property owned or controlled by the parent or use by the county commission legal guardian. having jurisdiction. • May not cross a highway or street.

Accident Reporting Those who are at least 12 but less than 17 years of age: The law requires that the operator of a • May operate a snowmobile if they have a valid snowmobile involved in an accident resulting snowmobile safety certificate in their immediate in injury to, or death of, any person, or property possession, or are under the direct supervision of damage in an estimated amount of $100 a person 21 years of age or older. or more, must immediately notify a law • May not cross a highway or street without enforcement agency within the county in which having a valid snowmobile safety certificate in the accident occurred. their immediate possession.