Chapter 191, Snowmobiles

Text relating to Ilion laws has been copied from the pdf provided by the Village and pasted here. This was done to make the text searchable.

Chapter 191, Snowmobiles

Noise -- See Ch. 159.

Parks and recreation areas -- See Ch. 163.

Streets and sidewalks -- See Ch. 197.

Vehicles and traffic -- See Ch. 239.

§ 191-1. Title.

This chapter shall be known as and may be cited as the "Snowmobile Ordinance of the Village of Ilion."

§ 191-2. Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to protect the public health, welfare and safety by regulating the operation of snowmobiles on public highways and places in the Village of Ilion in a manner which will be compatible with the use of such highways and places for vehicular and pedestrian travel and other uses and which will promote the safe and proper use of snowmobiles for recreation and commerce and minimize detrimental effects of such use on the environment.

§ 191-3. Definitions.

The terms, words and phrases used in this chapter shall have the same meanings as such terms, words and phrases are defined in § 21.05 of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law.

§ 191-4. Operation subject to certain provisions.

Operation of snowmobiles on highways and streets in the Village of Ilion, whenever herein permitted, shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Articles 21 through 27 of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law and the rules and regulations of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, except as modified by the restrictions and conditions set forth in this chapter.

§ 191-5. Operation on village streets.

A) Village streets and highways. If shall be unlawful for any person to operate a snowmobile on any street or highway in the Village of Ilion except the operation by a resident owner or his guests of a snowmobile for the sole purpose of leaving the village from his place of residence by the nearest possible route and returning from outside the village to his place of residence by the nearest possible route.

B) Side of highway. For the purpose of the snowmobile operation permitted in Subsection A above, all of the streets or highways of the Village of Ilion are hereby designated for the purpose of operation of snowmobiles on the extreme side of the street or highway, except those streets and highways specifically excluded in the next following Subsection C.

C) Excluded streets, highways and areas. Snowmobiles shall not be operated on the following streets, highways and other areas designated:

1. On County Road No. 14 (Barringer Road) from West Main Street to Brook Street.

2. On New York State Highway Route 5-S.

3. On Second Street from Otsego Street to Barringer Road.

4. On Central Avenue from East Clark Street north to the village line.

5. On New York State Highway Route 51 on the portion known as "Otsego Street" from East Clark Street south to the village line.

6. In any portion of the downtown business area within the boundaries of New York State Highway Route 5-S (Clark Street) on the north and Second Street on the south and Otsego Street on the east and West Street on the west.

7. On private property of another without the express permission to do so by the owner or occupant of said property.

8. On public school grounds, park property, cemeteries, playgrounds, recreational areas and golf courses without express provision or permission to do so by the proper public authority.

§ 191-6. Operation by minors.

A) No person under the age of ten (10) years shall operate a snowmobile in the Village of Ilion

B) Operation of a snowmobile in the Village of Ilion by a person ten (10) years of age or over and less than sixteen (16) years of age is hereby restricted and subject to the following provisions:

1. Such an operator is defined for purposes of this chapter as a "youthful operator."

2. Operation by a youthful operator is subject to the provisions of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law as herein modified and restricted.

3. A youthful operator must be accompanied by and under the immediate supervision of a snowmobile operator sixteen (16) years of age or over, and there shall be at least one (1) such snowmobile operator sixteen (16) years of age or older for each group of three (3) or fewer youthful operators.

§ 191-7. Hours of operation.

No person shall operate a snowmobile on or in any of the permitted or designated streets and highways between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., except that on Saturday, Sunday and holidays the prohibited hours shall be between 1:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Holidays shall be Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, New Year's Day, Washington's Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday and Easter.

§ 191-8. Speed restricted.

No person shall operate a snowmobile within the Village of Ilion at a speed greater than ten (10) miles per hour.

§ 191-9. Additional provisions for operation on highways.

A) Emergency. A snowmobile may be operated on a highway for the purpose of an emergency as authorized by § 25.05, Subdivision 2, of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law

B) No person shall operate a snowmobile on any street or highway except on the right side of the right-of-way, traveling in single file, and persons shall not ride tandem or abreast of each other and shall travel on the right side of the road in the same direction as the flow of vehicular traffic, and the operator shall be in a standing position, with the snowmobile running lights on.

C) No snowmobile shall be operated in any manner that would interfere with the operation of snowplows in plowing the streets or sidewalks of the village.

D) No person shall operate or ride upon a snowmobile unless he wears a protective helmet of a type approved by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles for use in the operation of motorcycle equipment pursuant to the Vehicle and Traffic Law, such helmet to be equipped with either a neck or chin strap and be reflectorized on both sides thereof.

§ 191-10. Obedience to traffic controls.

Each person operating a snowmobile on any village street or highway shall observe strictly all vehicular traffic signs and signals and all other rules and regulations applicable to vehicular traffic and shall obey the orders and directions of any state or local police or other law enforcement officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic.

§ 191-11. Unlawful operation.

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a snowmobile under the following circumstances:

A) In a manner so as to create loud, unnecessary or unusual noise so as to disturb or interfere with the peace and quiet of other persons.

B) In a careless, reckless or negligent manner so as to endanger the safety of any person or the property of any other person.

§ 191-12. Unattended snowmobiles unlawful.

It shall be unlawful for any owner or operator to leave or allow a snowmobile to be left unattended on any village highway or public place.

Pedestrians and all other motor vehicles, including snowplows, shall have the right-of-way over all snowmobiles operated within the village.

§ 191-14. Operation in Russell Park.

A) Operation of snowmobiles in Russell Park shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Articles 21 through 27 of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law and the rules and regulations of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, except as modified by the restrictions and conditions set forth in this chapter.

B) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a snowmobile in Russell Park at a time, at a place and in a manner contrary to this chapter.

C) Excluded areas. Snowmobiles shall not be operated in the area called "the bowl," the ice skating rink or on the main park road between Philip Street and Highland Avenue or in any other area other than the back park roadways or on any trail marked or designated with signs.

§ 191-15. Penalties for offenses.

Against any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a violation and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable for each offense by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.) or by imprisonment for not more than fifteen (15) days, or both.

§ 191-16. When effective.

This chapter shall take effect immediately upon its filing in accordance with the provisions of § 27 of the Municipal Home Rule Law; provided, however, that no snowmobile shall be operated under the provisions hereof until such time as the signs and markers are installed or constructed in accordance with the requirements of Article 25 of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law and the rules and regulations of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.