SB 364

This bill makes several changes to operation restrictions for snowmobiles,

all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs).

Under current law generally, a person may not operate a snowmobile on a

highway unless it is designated for snowmobile use but may operate a snowmobile

adjacent to a highway, subject to certain restrictions. A person operating a

snowmobile adjacent to any U.S. numbered highway or any state or county highway

must remain at least 10 feet from the roadway. In addition, a person operating a

snowmobile adjacent to a highway at night must travel in the same direction as the

vehicular traffic in the nearest lane unless the person is operating on a snowmobile

trail that is at least 40 feet from the roadway or is separated from the roadway by

a headlamp barrier.

The bill retains the 10-foot requirement, eliminates the 40-foot requirement,

and provides that a person operating a snowmobile adjacent to a highway at night

must travel in the same direction as the vehicular traffic in the nearest lane unless

the person is operating the snowmobile on a designated and marked snowmobile

trail. The bill also modifies the definition of “snowmobile trail” to include a marked

corridor in a highway right-of-way.

Current law requires a person who is operating an ATV, UTV, or snowmobile

during hours or darkness, or in a highway right-of-way during daylight hours, to

display a lighted head lamp. The bill requires the person, while operating an ATV,

UTV, or snowmobile during hours of darkness or adjacent to a roadway, to dim the

head lamp when an oncoming all-terrain vehicle, utility terrain vehicle,

snowmobile, or motor vehicle is within 500 feet.

Current law prohibits modifying a snowmobile to amplify or increase vehicle

noise above the level emitted by the snowmobile as originally manufactured. The bill

also prohibits operation of a snowmobile than has been so modified. Current law also

provides that snowmobile exhaust and engine noise may not exceed 88 decibels. The

bill lowers the noise limit to 82 decibels.