Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 158 - Natural Resources Department
Chapter 6100 - OUTDOOR RECREATION
SNOWMOBILE REGISTRATION AND OPERATION
Part 6100.5700 - REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

Universal Citation: MN Rules 6100.5700

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 27, December 30, 2024

Subpart 1. Snowmobiles.

No snowmobile shall be operated upon public lands, waters, streets, or highways unless it is equipped as follows:

A. At least one head lamp having a minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 100 feet ahead during hours of darkness under normal atmospheric conditions. Such head lamp shall be so aimed that glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of an oncoming snowmobile operator.

B. At least one red tail lamp, having a minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity to exhibit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear during hours of darkness, under normal atmospheric conditions.

C. Reflector material of a minimum area of 16 square inches mounted on each side forward of the handle bars. Reflector material shall have at least the minimum intensity values as prescribed in Table II of federal specifications L-S-300A, dated January 1, 1970. The manufacturer's trade name or other decorative material, if meeting minimum reflectorization standards, may be included in computing the required 16-square-inch area.

D. Brakes adequate to control the movement of, and to stop and to hold the snowmobile track under normal conditions of operation.

E. "Street or highway" means the entire width between boundary lines or any way or place when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, for the purpose of vehicular traffic.

Subp. 2. Sled, trailer, or device towed by snowmobile.

Any sled, trailer, or other device being towed by a snowmobile during the hours of darkness under normal atmospheric conditions shall be equipped as follows:

A. Unobstructed and visible reflector material shall be mounted on each side and at the rear of the sled, trailer, or vehicle.

B. The reflector material required herein shall have at least the minimum intensity values set forth in subpart 1, item C or it shall be in accordance with Reflex Reflectors, SAE J594E.

Subp. 3. Maker's permanent identification number.

All snowmobiles made after June 30, 1972, and sold in Minnesota shall bear the maker's permanent identification number so placed and of such size as follows:

A. be stamped into the right outside vertical surface of the track tunnel in an area within 12 inches of the rearmost edge of the track tunnel, or other approved location;

B. have a height of numerals and letters of not less than one-fourth inch;

C. have a depth of embossing of not less than 0.010 inch; and

D. be readable without moving any part of the vehicle.

Each snowmobile so manufactured shall bear an individual number which is not duplicated by that maker at any time within the succeeding ten years.

Subp. 4. Snowmobile registration number affixation.

All snowmobiles made after June 30, 1972, and sold in Minnesota, shall be designed and made to provide an area on which to affix the snowmobile registration number at the following location and of the following dimensions:

A. A clear area shall be provided on each side of the cowling or pan with the minimum size of 3-1/2 inches vertical by 11 inches horizontal.

B. It shall be a minimum of 12 inches from the ground when the machine is resting on a hard surface.

Subp. 5. Mufflers.

Mufflers:

A. No person shall operate a snowmobile unless it is equipped with a muffler as required by law and these rules, except that snowmobiles may be operated in organized events as authorized by Minnesota Statutes, section 84.871, without such a muffler.

B. No snowmobile manufactured on or after June 30, 1970, and before February 1, 1972, for sale in Minnesota, except snowmobiles designed for competition purposes only, shall be sold, or offered for sale, unless it is equipped with a muffler that limits engine noise to not more than 86 decibels on the A scale at 50 feet.

C. No snowmobile manufactured on or after February 1, 1972, for sale in Minnesota, except snowmobiles designed for competition purposes only, shall be sold, or offered for sale, unless it is equipped with a muffler that limits engine noise to not more than 82 decibels on the A scale at 50 feet.

D. No snowmobile manufactured on or after April 1, 1975, except a snowmobile designed for competition purposes only, shall be sold, offered for sale, or operated in Minnesota unless it is so equipped and has been certified by the manufacturer to conform to a sound level limitation of not more than 78 decibels on the A scale at 50 feet as originally equipped.

E. In certifying that a new snowmobile complies with the noise limitation requirements of this rule, a manufacturer shall make such a certification based on measurements made in accordance with the SAE Recommended Practice J192(a), as set forth in the Report of the Vehicle Sound Level Committee, as approved by the Society of Automotive Engineers September 1970 and revised November 1973.

F. No snowmobile shall be sold or offered for sale in Minnesota unless its maker has previously furnished the commissioner with a certificate of compliance certifying that all snowmobiles made by that maker meet or exceed the applicable noise level restrictions established by these rules. The certification of compliance shall be in the form of a "Snowmobile Safety Certification Committee" label conspicuously attached to the machine showing certification by the Snowmobile Safety and Certification Committee, Inc., or a label showing compliance with Snowmobile Safety Certification Committee standards accompanied by a letter containing test results of an evaluation of noise levels by a competent independent testing laboratory. Snowmobiles intended for competition purposes only shall be exempt from this part provided a separate placard identifying that such snowmobile is not so equipped is conspicuously and permanently affixed thereto.

G. Except for organized events as authorized by Minnesota Statutes, section 84.871, no snowmobile shall be modified by any person in any manner that shall amplify or otherwise increase total noise level above that emitted by the snowmobile as originally equipped, regardless of date of manufacture.

Statutory Authority: MS s 84.86

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