Chapter 350 — SNOWMOBILES

350.01 Definitions. In this chapter: (1g) “Alcohol beverages” has the meaning designated in s. 125.02. (1h) “Alcohol concentration” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (1v). (1i) “Approved public treatment facility” has the meaning specified under s. 51.45 (2) (c). (1r) “Board” me…

350.02 Operation of snowmobiles on or in the vicinity of highways. (1) No person may operate a snowmobile upon any part of any freeway which is a part of the federal system of interstate and defense highways. No person may operate a snowmobile upon any part of any other freeway u…

350.03 Right-of-way. (1) The operator of a snowmobile shall slow the vehicle to a speed not to exceed 10 miles per hour and yield the right-of-way when traveling within 100 feet of a person who is not in or on a snowmobile except as provided in ch. 346 where applicable. (2) Subse…

350.035 Meeting of snowmobiles. Operators of snowmobiles proceeding in opposite directions shall proceed with caution and pass each other to the right. History: 2003 a. 166.

350.04 Snowmobile races, derbies and routes. (1) Any county, town, city or village may block off the highways under its jurisdiction for the purpose of allowing special snowmobile events. No state trunk highway or connecting highway or part thereof, shall be blocked off by any co…

350.045 Public utility exemption. So that public utilities may effectively carry out their obligations to the public, the restrictions imposed by this chapter relating to use on, near or adjacent to highways shall not apply to snowmobiles operated to fulfill the corporate functio…

350.047 Local ordinance to be filed. Whenever a town, city or village adopts an ordinance designating a highway as a snowmobile route, and whenever a county, town, city or village adopts an ordinance regulating snowmobiles, its clerk shall immediately send a copy of the ordinance…

350.05 Operation by youthful operators restricted. (1) PERSONS UNDER 12. No person under the age of 12 years may operate a snowmobile unless the person is accompanied either by a parent or guardian or by a person over 18 years of age. (2) PERSONS AGED 12 AND OLDER; SNOWMOBILE SAF…

350.055 Safety certification program established. (1) The department shall establish a program of instruction on snowmobile laws, including the intoxicated snowmobiling law, regula- May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 350.055 SNOWMOBILES tions, safety and r…

350.07 Driving animals. No person shall drive or pursue any animal with a snowmobile, except as a part of normal farming operations involving the driving of livestock. History: 1971 c. 277.

350.08 Owner permitting operation. No owner or other person having charge or control of a snowmobile may knowingly authorize or permit any person to operate the snowmobile if the person is prohibited from operating a snowmobile under s. 350.05, if the person is incapable of opera…

350.09 Head lamps, tail lamps and brakes, etc. (1) Any snowmobile operated during the hours of darkness or operated during daylight hours on any highway right-of-way shall display a lighted head lamp and tail lamp. A person operating a snowmobile during the hours of darkness or a…

350.095 Noise level requirements. (1) NOISE LEVEL STANDARDS; TOTAL VEHICLE NOISE. (a) Every snowmobile that is manufactured on or after July 2, 1975, and that is offered for sale or sold in this state as a new snowmobile shall be manufactured so as to limit total vehicle noise to…

350.10 Miscellaneous provisions for snowmobile operation. (1) No person shall operate a snowmobile in the following manner: (a) At a rate of speed that is unreasonable or improper under the circumstances. (b) In any careless way so as to endanger the person or property of another…

350.101 Intoxicated snowmobiling. (1) OPERATION. (a) Operating while under the influence of an intoxicant. No person may engage in the operation of a snowmobile while under the influence of an intoxicant to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safe snowmobile operation.…

350.102 Preliminary screening test. (1) REQUIREMENT. A person shall provide a sample of his or her breath or oral fluids, or both, for a preliminary screening test if a law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the person is violating or has violated the intoxica…

350.1025 Application of intoxicated snowmobiling law. Except as provided in this section, the intoxicated snowmobiling law is applicable to all property, whether the property is publicly or privately owned and whether or not a fee is charged for the use of that property. The into…

350.103 Implied consent. Any person who engages in the operation of a snowmobile upon the public highways of this state, or in those areas enumerated in s. 350.1025, is deemed to have given consent to provide one or more samples of his or her breath, blood or urine for the purpos…

350.104 Chemical tests. (1) REQUIREMENT. (a) Samples; submission to tests. A person shall provide one or more samples of his or her breath, blood or urine for the purpose of authorized analysis if he or she is arrested for a violation of the intoxicated snowmobiling law and if he…

350.106 Report arrest to department. If a law enforcement officer arrests a person for a violation of the intoxicated snowmobiling law or the refusal law, the law enforcement officer shall notify the department of the arrest as soon as practicable. History: 1987 a. 399.

350.107 Officer’s action after arrest for operating a May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 350.107 SNOWMOBILES snowmobile while under influence of intoxicant. A person arrested for a violation of s. 350.101 (1) (a) or (b) or a local ordinance in conformity t…

350.108 Public education program. (1) The department shall promulgate rules to provide for a public education program to: (a) Inform snowmobile operators of the prohibitions and penalties included in the intoxicated snowmobiling law. The snowmobile recreational council may assist…

350.11 Penalties. (1) (a) Except as provided in par. (b) and subs. (2g), (2m) and (3), any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall forfeit not more than $250. (b) Except as provided in subs. (2g), (2m) and (3), any person who violates any provision of this chapter…

350.115 Snowmobile registration restitution surcharge. (1) LEVY OF SNOWMOBILE REGISTRATION RESTITUTION SURCHARGE. (a) If a court imposes a forfeiture for a violation of a provision of this chapter where the payment of a registration fee is required, the court shall impose a snowm…

350.12 Registration of snowmobiles; trail use stickers. (1) REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT. After January 1, 1970, no person shall operate, and no owner shall give permission for the operation of any snowmobile within this state unless the oper- May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (…

350.122 Lac du Flambeau registration program. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Band” means the Lac du Flambeau band of Lake Superior Chippewa. (b) “Reservation” means the territory within the boundaries of the Lac du Flambeau reservation that were in existence on April 10, …

350.125 Completion of application for registration by snowmobile dealers. (1) (a) When a snowmobile dealer sells a snowmobile, the dealer, at the time of sale, shall require the buyer to complete an application for an original registration certificate, collect the required fee, a…

350.13 Uniform trail signs and standards. The department of natural resources in cooperation with the department of transportation, after public hearing, shall promulgate rules to establish uniform trail and route signs and standards relating to operation thereon as authorized by…

350.135 Interferences with uniform trail signs and standards prohibited. (1) No person may intentionally remove, damage, deface, move or obstruct any uniform snowmobile trail sign or standard or intentionally interfere with the effective operation of any uniform snowmobile trail …

350.136 Signs that advertise nearby businesses. (1) The department shall allow snowmobile clubs to erect signs that advertise nearby businesses along snowmobile trails on land under the department’s jurisdiction as provided under this section. (2) The department shall enter into …

350.137 Uniform snowmobile rail crossing standards. (1) The department, after having consulted with each rail authority, as defined in s. 350.138 (1) (b), in this state, that has furnished the department with the information required under s. 350.138 (2m), an established snowmobi…

350.138 Snowmobile rail crossings requiring permits. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Established snowmobile rail crossing” has the meaning given in s. 350.139 (1) (a). (b) “Rail authority” means a rail transit body or a railroad corporation. (c) “Rail transit body” means a…

350.139 Established snowmobile rail crossings. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Established snowmobile rail crossing” means a snowmobile rail crossing that has been used by snowmobiles, or maintained by a snowmobile organization for use by snowmobiles, for at least 5 winter…

350.1395 Snowmobile rail crossings; closing and removal; review of rail authorities; insurance rules. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (b) “Rail authority” has the meaning given in s. 350.138 (1) (b). (c) “Snowmobile organization” has the meaning given in s. 350.138 (1) (f). (2)…

350.14 Duties of snowmobile recreational council. (1) The snowmobile recreational council shall carry out studies and make recommendations to the legislature, governor, department of natural resources and department of transportation on all matters related to this chapter or othe…

350.145 Recommendations of the snowmobile recreational council. (1) PROCEDURE REQUIRED. To assist the snowmobile recreational council in performing its duty to make recommendations under s. 350.14 (1), the department and the snowmobile recreational council shall follow the proced…

350.15 Accidents and accident reports. (2) DUTY TO RENDER AID. Insofar as the operator is capable of doing, the operator of a snowmobile involved in a snowmobile accident shall render to other persons affected thereby such assistance as is practicable and necessary to save them f…

350.155 Coroners and medical examiners to report; require blood specimen. (1) Every coroner or medical examiner shall on or before the 10th day of each month report in writing to the department the death of any person within the coroner’s or medical examiner’s jurisdiction during…

350.17 (1) and (3). (cm) A person may operate a snowmobile without having the registration decals displayed as provided under par. (a) if the owner has received a validated registration receipt and if the operator of the snowmobile complies with pars. (b) and (c). (d) At the end …

350.18 Local ordinances. (1) Counties, towns, cities and villages may regulate snowmobile operation on snowmobile trails maintained by or on snowmobile routes designated by the county, city, town or village. 18 (2) Any county, town, city or village may enact an ordinance that is …

350.19 and 350.99. (3) (a) A town, city or village may enact an ordinance allowing the operation of snowmobiles on a roadway and shoulder of a highway for any portion of a highway that lies within the boundaries of the town, city or village for the purpose of residential access, …

350.99 Parties to a violation. (1) Whoever is concerned in the commission of a violation of this chapter for which a forfeiture is imposed is a principal and may be charged with and convicted of the violation although he or she did not directly commit it and although the person w…