A person shall not operate a snowmobile upon a public highway, land used as an airport or street or on a public or private parking lot not specifically designated for the use of snowmobiles except under the following conditions and circumstances.
(1) A snowmobile may be operated on the right-of-way of a public highway, except a limited access highway, if it is operated at the extreme right of the open portion of the right-of-way and with the flow of traffic on the highway. Snowmobiles operated on the right-of-way of a public highway shall travel single file and shall not be operated abreast except when overtaking and passing another snowmobile.
(2) A snowmobile may be operated on the roadway or shoulder when necessary to cross a bridge or culvert if the snowmobile is brought to a complete stop before entering onto the roadway or shoulder and the driver yields the right-of-way to an approaching vehicle on the highway.
(3) In a court action in this state where competent evidence demonstrates that a vehicle which is permitted to be operated on a highway pursuant to the Michigan Vehicle Act (M.C.L.A. §§ 257.1 et seq.) is in a collision with a snowmobile on a roadway, the driver of the snowmobile involved in the collision shall be considered prima facie negligent.
(4) A snowmobile may be operated across a public highway, other than a limited access highway, at right angles to the highway for the purpose of getting from 1 area to another when the operation can be done in safety and another vehicle is not crossing the highway at the same time in the same general area. An operator shall bring his snowmobile to a complete stop before proceeding across the public highway and shall yield the right-of-way to all oncoming traffic.
(5) A duly constituted law enforcement officer of a city, village, township, county or the state may authorize use of a snowmobile on a public highway or street within his jurisdiction when an emergency occurs and conventional motor vehicles cannot be used for transportation due to snow or other extreme highway conditions.
(6) A snowmobile may be operated on a street or highway for a special event of limited duration conducted according to a prearranged schedule only under permit from the City Council. The event may be conducted on the frozen surface of public waters only under permit from the department of natural resources.
(1993 Code, § 66-3)
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see M.C.L.A. § 324.82101 et seq.