[Amended 11-12-1996 by Ord. No. 831; 1-25-2000 by Ord. No. 00-3; 11-17-2001 by Ord. No. 01-1; 11-25-2008 by Ord. No. 08-19; 12-8-2020 by Ord. No. 20-15]
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this article, the statutory provisions describing and defining regulations with respect to snowmobiles in the following enumerated sections of the Wisconsin statutes are hereby adopted by reference and made part of this article as if fully set forth herein. Acts required to be performed or prohibited by such statutes are required or prohibited by this article. Any future amendments, revisions or modifications of the statutes incorporated herein by reference are intended to be made part of this Code.
167.31
Safe use and transportation of firearms and bows
350.01
Definitions
350.02
Operation of snowmobiles on or in the vicinity of highways
350.03
Right-of-way
350.04
Snowmobile races, derbies and routes
350.045
Public utility exemption
350.047
Local ordinance to be filed
350.05
Operation by youthful operators restricted
350.055
Safety certification program established
350.07
Driving animals
350.08
Owner permitting operation
350.09
Head lamps, tail lamps and brakes, etc.
350.10
Miscellaneous provisions for snowmobile operation
350.12
Registration of snowmobiles; trail use stickers
350.125
Completion of application for registration by snowmobile dealers
350.13
Uniform trail signs and standards
350.15
Accidents and accident reports
350.17
Enforcement
350.18
Local ordinances
350.19
Liability of landowners
350.99
Parties to a violation
No person shall operate a snowmobile upon any street, highway or alley within the City of Rice Lake in violation of the traffic regulation provisions of W.S.A. §§ 346.04, 346.06, 346.11, 346.14(1), 346.18, 346.19, 346.20, 346.21, 346.26, 346.27, 346.33, 346.35, 346.37, 346.39, 348.40, 346.44, 346.46, 346.47, 346.48, 346.50(1)(b), 346.51, 346.52, 346.53, 346.54, 346.55, 346.87, 346.88, 348.89, 346.90, 346.91, 346.92(1) and 346.94(1) and (9).
A. 
No person under the age of 16 years shall operate any snowmobile upon any designated snowmobile trail, street, alley or other public right-of-way in the City of Rice Lake, and no snowmobile owner shall authorize any person under the age of 16 years to operate such snowmobile upon any designated snowmobile trail, street, alley or other public right-of-way in the City of Rice Lake.
B. 
No person shall operate any snowmobile upon any street, alley or other public right-of-way in the City of Rice Lake unless such person shall have a valid motor vehicle operator's license.
C. 
All snowmobiles operated within the City shall be registered with the Department of Natural Resources of the State of Wisconsin, as required by W.S.A. Ch. 350, and shall display such registration license on any snowmobile so registered. If any snowmobile is registered in another state with a reciprocal agreement with the State of Wisconsin, such snowmobile may be operated within the provisions of this section.
D. 
Every owner of any snowmobile shall carry liability insurance on snowmobiles operated within the City or be able to show proof of financial responsibility in the event of any accident with said snowmobile.
A. 
Use on public and private property.
(1) 
Snowmobiles may be operated on any street or alley within the City except for those streets over which snowmobile operation is prohibited. However, even those streets over which operation is prohibited may be crossed by snowmobiles. It is the specific intention of this section that no snowmobiles may be operated over any sidewalk or boulevard anywhere in the City.
(2) 
Snowmobile trails. This section neither allows nor prohibits snowmobile use on private property over which property owners have agreed to allow snowmobile traffic. Provisions of this Article III of Chapter 245 do not apply to private trails and the City will take no enforcement action on any private trails or former private trails. It is recommended citizens contact the local snowmobile organization involved in obtaining permission for said private trails.
B. 
The operation of snowmobiles is allowed on all City streets except the following:
(1) 
Main Street from its intersection with Knapp Street on the north, south to the south City limits.
(2) 
South access from its intersection with Main Street on the east, west to the City limits.
(3) 
West Knapp Street, from its intersection with Main Street on the east, west to the west City limits.
(4) 
Hammond Avenue, from its intersection with West Knapp Street on the south, north to the north City limits.
(5) 
Haugen Avenue, from its intersection with Hammond Avenue on the south, north to the north City limits.
C. 
Signage; opening and closing of routes. The Chief of Police or his designee is directed and authorized to procure, erect and maintain appropriate snowmobile route, trail and limit signs and markers in accordance with the Department of Natural Resources statutes and regulations. No person may intentionally remove, damage, deface, move or obstruct any route sign. The Chief of Police shall have the power to declare the stated snowmobile routes either open or closed.
D. 
Speed. The speed limit for the operation of any snowmobile on any of the designated routes within the City shall be 20 miles per hour.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, forfeit an amount as found in Chapter 1, General Provisions, § 1-20, of this Code, provided that no person shall forfeit an amount in excess of the maximum fine or forfeiture allowed in the Wisconsin statutes for the same offense, and further provided that the penalty and forfeiture for parking violations on highways shall be the amount applicable to such violations by owners or operators of motor vehicles under §§ 245-31 and 245-32 of this chapter.