A person registered as owner of a snowmobile may be fined or imprisoned for committing a penal offense, or both, if a snowmobile bearing that person’s registration number is operated contrary to the provisions of M.S. §§ 84.81 to 84.88, M.S. § 97B.091 or of §§ 73.30 through 73.39, both inclusive, of this code. The registered owner may not be so fined if the snowmobile was reported as stolen to the Commissioner or a law enforcement agency at the time of the alleged unlawful act, or if the registered owner demonstrates that the snowmobile either was stolen or was not in use at the time of the alleged unlawful act, or if the registered owner furnishes to law enforcement officers upon request the identity of the person in actual physical control of the snowmobile at the time of such violation. The provisions of this subdivision do not apply to a person who rents or leases a snowmobile if the person keeps a record of the name and address of the person or persons renting or leasing the snowmobile, the registration number thereof, the departure date and time, and expected time of return thereof. The record must be preserved for at least six months and is prima facie evidence that the person named therein was the operator thereof at the time it was operated contrary to M.S. §§ 84.81 to 84.88, M.S. § 97B.091 or of §§ 73.30 through 73.39 of this code. The provisions of this subdivision do not prohibit or limit the prosecution of a snowmobile operator for violating any of the sections referred to in this division.
('72 Code, § 730:75) (Am. Ord. 1983-440(A), passed 11-21-83; Am. Ord. 1999-912, passed 10-25-99)