2 up sleds or 1 man w/2 riders: documents

[DennyB]

A question has been raised about the legality of 2 riders on a 1 man snowmobile/ATV. Is it legal if both riders have helmets on and are riding in a slow, safe fashion while going onto a lake to ice fish. There seems to be little information on this in the articles I can find on the internet or maybe I'm not looking in the right places. Is this one of those "grey" areas where its up to the LEO? Also, what documentation is necessary for riders of snowmobiles/ATVs' i.e. title, registration and trail permits. This was brought up by a rider of a ATV who was ticketed for not having a registration for his quad. I was under the impression that quads aren't issued a registration. True or false? I don't have one for mine. Also, another rider (on a sled) stated he got a ticket for no trail permit while ice fishing and when he told the LEO that the law says if used for transportion for ice fishing only, one wasn't required. He claims the LEO said there was no ice fishing equipment on the sled therefore a ticket was in order. I read the DNR statement about this and there was no mention of equipment having to be on the sled. Another "grey" area? Thanks for taking the time to answer all the question we pester you with by the way.

[Reid A Roeske]

I'll try to break it down. First I'll cover ATV's and snowmobiles seperately because they are goverened by two seperate acts. The laws are different which causes confusion for us as law enforement and the public...

SNOWMOBILES

- Have both a registration (from SOS) and a trail permit (from DNR)
- trail permit (tp) is required anytime you are on land open to public use, even if not on a groomed trail
-tp NOT required if the snowmobile is being used for ice fishing, perhaps there might be more to the story regarding the guy who was ticketed, who knows?
- no law regulating the number of people that an legally ride on one

ATV

- no registration from SOS, but does have a title issued by SOS that is required to be carried on the ATV (very few do)
- does have the ORV "trail permit" issued by DNR. This is often referred to as a registration because there is no reg for an ATV
- tp is required anytime you are operating in an area open to the public..Even when ice fishing
- limited to the number of passengers the machine is designed to carry. Simply adding a backrest for the passenger doesn't change the carrying capacity of the ORV. It must be manufactured as a two seater.

I think I covered all questions, if you need any more clarification don't hesitate to ask.

[shiawassee_kid]

Reid, down here a lot of us ride the river system on our snowmobiles. Are we required to have a trail permit?

i've heard both answers from CO's and local police but no one has confirmed it. I run a trail permit either way since i ride up north on the trail system so i really haven't looked into it as it doesn't affect me but i know some local guys that would like to know.

Its not a regular trail system so i fail to see the need for a trail permit...and if ice fisherman don't require it, seems odd that anyone would require it.

[Reid A Roeske]

Yes on the rivers you need a trail permit.

[DennyB]

I want to be clear on this as I am going to buy a snowmobile for next winter
and I have a disabled brother that will at times, be going ice fishing with me so please forgive my repeating this. I want to be sure as there is money involved A single seat sled may be cheaper than a two up depending on year, miles ect.
As I understand the last sentence in "snowmobiles", it will NOT be neccessary for me to purchase a two-up sled in order to take my brother out on the ice.
Correct? Thanks again.

[Reid A Roeske]

Yep, its OK to ride double on a one man snowmobile. Or triple.