You can take the snowmobile safety course online to prepare for an in-person course to get your snowmobile safety certificate! Simply click the link below to get started. Anyone operating or operating a snowmobile in New York State must wear an approved hard hat unless operating on property owned by the driver or passenger. Before heading out on New York`s snowmobile trails, remember to follow all the safety rules and best practices to ensure a safe and enjoyable ride: If you`re a snowmobile rider or want to be one, you need to know these things in New York State and WNY. If you enjoy riding your snowmobile outdoors, remember to drive safely, respect the rights of others, and protect and care for the natural environment around you. If you do, you and everyone else will be able to enjoy the joys of snowmobiling for many years to come. The use of snowmobiles on highways depends on the classification of the road and the existing conditions. Children under the age of 10 or under the age of 14 without a safety certificate may only operate a snowmobile on properties owned or rented by their parents or guardians. Snowmobiling in New York is a family activity. Grandparents, parents and teens slide together, and children`s activities are an integral part of the local snowmobile club`s schedule. However, there are some limitations for young snowmobilers. The New York Statewide snowmobile trail system operates with a sled registration system. No pass is required, but all New York State residents and non-residents must register their sleds in New York to ride in New York.

$10 of the registration fee goes to the Department of Motor Vehicles for their machining effects. The rest of the fee — $90 or $35, as you choose — goes to the Snowmobile Trail Fund, which is legally administered by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, where it is distributed as grants to snowmobile clubs, cities, etc. to develop, build and maintain snowmobile trails and help purchase trail equipment. A small portion – usually less than 15% – is used for snowmobile enforcement, safety education measures and associated administrative costs. Teens between the ages of 14 and 17 may operate a snowmobile on properties where snowmobiling is permitted without adult or other supervision if they have completed snowmobile safety training approved by the State of New York. If teens between the ages of 14 and 17 have not completed the training, they can operate a snowmobile if accompanied by someone who is at least 18 years old. The laws and regulations listed on this page are intended as a quick reference for snowmobilers. It is your responsibility to know ALL snowmobile laws before you leave. For a complete list of snowmobile laws and regulations in New York City, please contact the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation at www.nyparks.com. All state law enforcement officers, including sheriffs, state and local police, state park police, environmental protection officers, and foresters, have the authority to enforce snowmobile laws and regulations. Law enforcement agencies actively patrol New York State`s snowmobile trails. It is increasingly common to find a roadblock or trail roadblock staffed by officials verifying compliance with legal requirements, often at the request of the organized snowmobile user community.

For more detailed information, it is best to purchase an up-to-date trail map from a local club and ride on the groomed and marked trail system, where owner`s permission has been obtained for everyone, snowmobile laws have been followed, trails have been maintained, snow has been groomed and signs are present. There, you can drive without worrying about breaking the law, irritating a landowner, waking the baby, damaging the growth of forests and farmland, or disrupting Sunday services. Before registering a sleigh, you must have paid sales tax on your sleigh, unless you are a non-resident. Non-residents are exempt from the New York State sales tax on snowmobiles. You do not need to carry a snowmobile safety certificate in the following cases: Any snowmobile accident involving bodily injury or property damage of more than $1,000 must be reported to the law enforcement agency or judge nearest you, with a copy sent to the OPRHP. The operator of a snowmobile involved in a reportable accident must submit a complete written report within 7 days of the accident. Click here for a list of courses offered throughout New York State. This list is updated weekly during snowmobile season. There are 10,500 miles of funded snowmobile trails in New York City, and (depending on snow cover) your registration gives you access to every mile. The only exception is the area of the old forge. You will need to purchase a separate hiking pass for this area, which has chosen not to receive funding from the Trail Fund.

Despite the best precautions, accidents do occur. In the event of an accident involving a snowmobile, the driver must stop immediately. The operator is legally obliged to provide assistance to other persons affected by the accident to the best of his ability. The operator is also required by law to provide their registration certificate and young operator`s certificate (if required) and to identify themselves with their name, address and snowmobile identification number IN WRITING to any person injured or suffering property damage. If the person who suffered the injury or property damage is not located at the scene of the accident, the snowmobile operator is required by law to submit an accident report to the nearest police service within 24 hours. New York State has added a new holiday hunt for deer hunters, which has delayed the start of snowmobile season in our region. It`s a flashy point this year due to the lack of snow we face in Western New York. But since the snow is piling up and the trails are open (depending on the approval of the landowner and club), there are a few things to keep in mind when you get on your sled for the first time this year. The 230 county clubs and associations that make up the New York State Snowmobiling Association (NYSSA) invite you to enjoy New York`s 10,500-mile trail this winter. Some areas of our state have snow cover between early December and late March.

Individual areas open their paths on different dates depending on hunting seasons and other factors, so please check with a local club for the most up-to-date information. Snowmobiles must not be operated in an unsafe or reckless manner or in a manner that disturbs other people or wildlife.