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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 103 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 503
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Anne M. Gobi
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act promoting snowmobiling sustainability.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Anne M. GobiWorcester and Hampshire 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 103 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 503
By Ms. Gobi, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 503) of Anne M. Gobi for legislation
to promote snowmobiling sustainability. Environment and Natural Resources.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 538 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act promoting snowmobiling sustainability.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 2A of Chapter 21 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 1, the figure “11” and inserting in
3place thereof the following figure:- 13.
4 SECTION 2: Said section 6C of said chapter 21, as so appearing, is hereby further
5amended by inserting after the word “county”, in line 6, the following words:- and provided
6further that at least one member shall be a resident of Franklin County, Hampden County,
7Hampshire County or Worcester County,
8 SECTION 3. Said section 2A of said chapter 21, as so appearing, is hereby further
9amended by inserting after the word “Massachusetts”, in line 12, the following words:- the
10Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts. 2 of 3
11 SECTION 4. Said section 2A of said chapter 21, as so appearing, is hereby further
12amended by striking out, in line 13 and in line 17, the number “2” and inserting in place thereof
13the following number:- 4.
14 SECTION 5. Section 1 of chapter 61B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
15Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 20, after the word “gliding” the
16following words:- , recreational snowmobiling,”.
17 SECTION 6. Section 22 of chapter 90B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
18Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following paragraph:-
19 In conjunction with the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts, or its successor
20organization, a three-day “free snowmobile weekend” shall be established annually by the
21Massachusetts Office of Law Enforcement on a mutually agreeable weekend during the winter
22snowmobiling season. For the purposes of this section, a “free snowmobile weekend” is defined
23as a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during which a Massachusetts snowmobile registration and
24Trail Pass provided by the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts or its appendant clubs is
25not required for non-residents to operate snowmobiles on public lands, or private lands under
26agreement with the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts or its appendant clubs, provided
27said non-resident has proof of a valid registration in any state or Canadian province.
28 SECTION 7. Said chapter 90B is hereby amended by inserting after section 26E the
29following section:-
30 Section 26F. Whoever, without right, knowingly operates a motor vehicle on wheels over
31a snow vehicle trail on public property shall be subject to a fine of $250 for the first offense and
32a fine of $500 for any subsequent offense. 3 of 3
33 The provisions of this section shall not apply where the operation of the wheeled vehicle
34onto a snow vehicle trail occurred from an adjoining public way or place, or private way or place
35which members of the public are allowed access; unless, signage that prohibits the public use of
36a wheeled vehicle on the trail is posted conspicuously at such location.
37 For the purposes of this section, the words “snow vehicle trail” shall mean a path or road
38on publicly-owned property that is designated and marked as a trail for snow vehicles by the
39property owner, provided that during any period of such allowed use as may be established by
40the owner, the trail is closed to the public use of motor vehicles other than snow vehicles; and the
41words, “motor vehicle on wheels” or “wheeled vehicle”, shall mean a recreational vehicle as
42defined under this chapter, and a motor vehicle as defined under chapter 90, not excluding any
43motor vehicle used exclusively in the building, repair and maintenance of highways; provided,
44such vehicle is designed to travel on one or more wheels in contact with the ground.
45 SECTION 8. The Massachusetts Office of Law Enforcement and Executive Office of
46Energy and Environmental Affairs, in conjunction with the Snowmobile Association of
47Massachusetts, or its successor organization, shall establish, through a Memorandum of
48Understanding, a policy of winter snowmobiling use on new and existing recreational trails, also
49known as rail trails, during periods of sufficient snow cover. Use as mentioned shall include but
50not be limited to recreational use, grooming, and maintenance.