The purpose of this chapter is to protect the public health,
welfare and safety by regulating the operation of snowmobiles on public
highways in the Town of Onondaga in a manner which will be compatible
with the use of such highways 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.
Whenever the operation of a snowmobile is permitted on the shoulder,
roadway or inside bank of any Town highway, as provided in this chapter,
the following conditions and restrictions are hereby imposed on all
such snowmobile operations:
A. Unattended snowmobiles. It shall be unlawful for any owner or operator
to leave or allow a snowmobile to be left unattended on any Town highway
while the motor is running, or with any key for starting the same
left in the ignition or elsewhere in said snowmobile.
B. Obedience to vehicular traffic controls. Each person operating a
snowmobile on any Town 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.
Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter
shall be deemed a violation, and the violator shall be liable to a
fine of not less than $5 nor more than $100. A convicted person is
required to complete a snowmobile safety course.
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 Article 8 of the Conservation
Law, the rules and regulations of the New York State Office of Parks
and Recreation and the Department of Transportation.