Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S503 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 103 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 503
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Anne M. Gobi
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act promoting snowmobiling sustainability.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Anne M. GobiWorcester and Hampshire 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 103 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 503
18	18	By Ms. Gobi, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 503) of Anne M. Gobi for legislation
19	19	to promote snowmobiling sustainability. Environment and Natural Resources.
20	20	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
21	21	SEE SENATE, NO. 538 OF 2021-2022.]
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
25	25	(2023-2024)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act promoting snowmobiling sustainability.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 SECTION 1. Section 2A of Chapter 21 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
31	31	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 1, the figure “11” and inserting in
32	32	3place thereof the following figure:- 13.
33	33	4 SECTION 2: Said section 6C of said chapter 21, as so appearing, is hereby further
34	34	5amended by inserting after the word “county”, in line 6, the following words:- and provided
35	35	6further that at least one member shall be a resident of Franklin County, Hampden County,
36	36	7Hampshire County or Worcester County,
37	37	8 SECTION 3. Said section 2A of said chapter 21, as so appearing, is hereby further
38	38	9amended by inserting after the word “Massachusetts”, in line 12, the following words:- the
39	39	10Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts. 2 of 3
40	40	11 SECTION 4. Said section 2A of said chapter 21, as so appearing, is hereby further
41	41	12amended by striking out, in line 13 and in line 17, the number “2” and inserting in place thereof
42	42	13the following number:- 4.
43	43	14 SECTION 5. Section 1 of chapter 61B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
44	44	15Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 20, after the word “gliding” the
45	45	16following words:- , recreational snowmobiling,”.
46	46	17 SECTION 6. Section 22 of chapter 90B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
47	47	18Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following paragraph:-
48	48	19 In conjunction with the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts, or its successor
49	49	20organization, a three-day “free snowmobile weekend” shall be established annually by the
50	50	21Massachusetts Office of Law Enforcement on a mutually agreeable weekend during the winter
51	51	22snowmobiling season. For the purposes of this section, a “free snowmobile weekend” is defined
52	52	23as a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during which a Massachusetts snowmobile registration and
53	53	24Trail Pass provided by the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts or its appendant clubs is
54	54	25not required for non-residents to operate snowmobiles on public lands, or private lands under
55	55	26agreement with the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts or its appendant clubs, provided
56	56	27said non-resident has proof of a valid registration in any state or Canadian province.
57	57	28 SECTION 7. Said chapter 90B is hereby amended by inserting after section 26E the
58	58	29following section:-
59	59	30 Section 26F. Whoever, without right, knowingly operates a motor vehicle on wheels over
60	60	31a snow vehicle trail on public property shall be subject to a fine of $250 for the first offense and
61	61	32a fine of $500 for any subsequent offense. 3 of 3
62	62	33 The provisions of this section shall not apply where the operation of the wheeled vehicle
63	63	34onto a snow vehicle trail occurred from an adjoining public way or place, or private way or place
64	64	35which members of the public are allowed access; unless, signage that prohibits the public use of
65	65	36a wheeled vehicle on the trail is posted conspicuously at such location.
66	66	37 For the purposes of this section, the words “snow vehicle trail” shall mean a path or road
67	67	38on publicly-owned property that is designated and marked as a trail for snow vehicles by the
68	68	39property owner, provided that during any period of such allowed use as may be established by
69	69	40the owner, the trail is closed to the public use of motor vehicles other than snow vehicles; and the
70	70	41words, “motor vehicle on wheels” or “wheeled vehicle”, shall mean a recreational vehicle as
71	71	42defined under this chapter, and a motor vehicle as defined under chapter 90, not excluding any
72	72	43motor vehicle used exclusively in the building, repair and maintenance of highways; provided,
73	73	44such vehicle is designed to travel on one or more wheels in contact with the ground.
74	74	45 SECTION 8. The Massachusetts Office of Law Enforcement and Executive Office of
75	75	46Energy and Environmental Affairs, in conjunction with the Snowmobile Association of
76	76	47Massachusetts, or its successor organization, shall establish, through a Memorandum of
77	77	48Understanding, a policy of winter snowmobiling use on new and existing recreational trails, also
78	78	49known as rail trails, during periods of sufficient snow cover. Use as mentioned shall include but
79	79	50not be limited to recreational use, grooming, and maintenance.