[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Oconto Falls 11-13-2001 by Ord. No. 01-012 (Ch. 31). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks and recreation — See Ch. 360.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 465.
This chapter is adopted by the City of Oconto Falls for the purpose of authorizing residential access to snowmobile routes lying within the corporate limits of the City.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
HIGHWAY
All public ways and thoroughfares and bridges on the same. It includes the entire width between the boundary lines of every way open to the use of the public as a matter of right for the purposes of vehicular travel. It includes those roads or driveways in the state, county or municipal parks and in state forests which have been opened to the use of the public for the purpose of vehicular travel and roads or driveways upon the grounds of public schools, as defined in § 115.01(1), Wis. Stats., and institutions under the jurisdiction of the County Board of Supervisors, but does not include private roads or driveways.
PRIVATE ROAD or PRIVATE DRIVEWAY
Every way or place in private ownership and used for vehicular travel only by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner and every road or driveway upon the grounds of public institutions other than public schools, as defined in § 115.01(1), Wis. Stats., and institutions under the jurisdiction of the County Board of Supervisors.
PURPOSE OF RESIDENTIAL ACCESS
For the purpose of traveling for the shortest distance that is necessary for a person operating the snowmobile to go between a residence and the snowmobile route or snowmobile trail that is closest to that residence.
ROADWAY
That portion of a highway between the regularly established curblines or that portion which is improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, excluding the berm or shoulder. In a divided highway the term "roadway" refers to each roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.
This chapter is adopted under the authority of § 31.02, Wis. Stats.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, 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 chapter as if fully set forth herein. Acts required to be performed or prohibited by such statutes are required or prohibited by this chapter.
350.01
Definitions
350.02
Operations of snowmobiles in the vicinity of highways
350.03
Right-of-way
350.04
Snowmobile races, derbies, and routes
350.045
Public utility exemption
350.05
Operation by youthful operators restricted
350.07
Driving animals
350-08
Owner permitting operation
350.09
Head lamps, tail lamps, brakes
350-10
Miscellaneous provisions for snowmobile operation
350.101
Intoxicated snowmobiling
350.102
Preliminary breath screening test
350.1025
Application of intoxicated snowmobiling law
350-103
Implied consent
350.104(1)
Chemical tests
350-104(5)
Refusal
350-12
Registration of snowmobiles
350.13
Uniform trail signs and standards
350.135
Interference with uniform trail signs and standards
350.15
Accidents and accidents reports
350.17
Enforcement
350.19
Liability of landowners
167.31
Firearms and bows
346.02(10)
Applicability of rules of the road to snowmobiles
§§ 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, 346.40, 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, 346.89, 346.90, 346.91, 346.92(1) and 346.94(1) and (9)
A. 
Prohibited operation.
(1) 
No person shall operate a snowmobile on public property contrary to the provisions of this chapter nor on private property without the permission of the owner or lessee of such property.
(2) 
No person shall operate a snowmobile on any roadway within the City of Oconto Falls unless such roadway is a designated snowmobile route or a marked snowmobile trail without first applying for, paying the registration fee and obtaining a municipal resident registration, on forms provided by the City.
(a) 
The registration fee shall be set, from time to time, by the Common Council as a part of the general fee schedule for City services.
(b) 
A complete and legible copy of the registration shall be kept with the snowmobile for which it has been issued at all times during operation of the machine.
(3) 
No municipal resident registration for residential access under this chapter shall be issued to any person who is not a resident of the City of Oconto Falls.
(4) 
No person shall operate a snowmobile on any sidewalk in the City of Oconto Falls; provided, however, that it shall not be a violation of this provision for a person to drive a snowmobile across a sidewalk for the purpose of traveling the shortest possible distance from his residence to a public roadway and back.
B. 
Permitted operation.
(1) 
Recreation areas. Operation of snowmobiles on marked trails is authorized in the following public parks and recreational areas: Cambell's Pond, East Side Beach Park, Upper Dam Boat Landing, and West Side Park.
C. 
Designated snowmobile routes. The following are designated snowmobile routes:
(1) 
The north/south alley between Maple Street and Oakland Street extending from Sheridan Avenue on the south and the termination point of the alley approximately 180 feet north of Sherman Street.
(2) 
Sheridan Street between South Oakland Street and Golden Corners Road.
(3) 
Hank Marks Drive from its westerly terminus to Munsert Avenue.
(4) 
Munsert extended between its intersection with Hank Marks Drive and Quincy Street.
(5) 
Quincy Street between Chestnut Avenue and Linden Avenue.
(6) 
Market Street between Quincy Street and North Main Street.
(7) 
River Street between its northerly terminus and Caldwell Avenue.
(8) 
Caldwell Avenue between River Street and North Main Street.
A. 
Seasonal effective date.
(1) 
Snowmobiles shall only be permitted to be operated within the corporate limits of the City of Oconto Falls on the roadways, snowmobile routes, trails, and recreation areas noted in § 404-5 annually from the 15th day of November to the first day of April.
(2) 
The Chief of Police of the City of Oconto Falls is empowered to change the seasonal effective dates for the operation of snowmobiles within the corporate limits of the City when weather conditions require such a change.
B. 
Required operation. This chapter designates the roadways, snowmobile routes, trails, and recreation areas on which snowmobile travel is permitted subject to the following conditions:
(1) 
Snowmobiles shall be operated on the extreme right side of the roadway and travel with the flow of traffic.
(2) 
Snowmobiles are to be operated only in single file.
(3) 
Snowmobiles are to be operated with headlights on at all times.
(4) 
Snowmobile operators shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicular traffic and pedestrians.
(5) 
No person shall leave or allow a snowmobile to remain unattended on any public highway or public property while the motor is running or with the starting key in the ignition.
(6) 
No snowmobile shall be operated on any public roadway at speeds in excess of 10 miles per hour.
(7) 
No person shall operate a snowmobile on any sidewalk, pedestrianway or mall within the City except as specifically authorized by § 404-5 of this chapter or for the purpose of crossing to obtain immediate access to an authorized area of operation.
C. 
Excessive noise.
(1) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a snowmobile within the corporate limits of the City of Oconto Falls with its noise suppression features and/or muffler removed or altered to permit the emission of greater levels of noise than intended by the manufacturer. Participants in sanctioned events such as races or derbies are exempt from this section while operating the snowmobile within the designated grounds of such sanctioned race or derby, provided that such noise emissions do not occur between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. local time.
(2) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally race a snowmobile engine in such a manner that will result in unnecessary noise or spin a snowmobile track in such a manner as may cause bodily injury, property damage or possible injury to the street surface or vegetative cover of a public recreation area.
A. 
Law enforcement officers. This chapter shall be enforced by any law enforcement officer of the City of Oconto Falls, Oconto County, Wisconsin.
B. 
Uniform citation for highway violations. The uniform traffic citation promulgated under § 345.11, Wis. Stats., shall be used for violation of this chapter.
C. 
Other violations. All violations of this chapter not described in Subsection B shall be enforced in accordance with §§ 66.0111 and 66.0114 and Ch. 799, Wis. Stats.
A. 
Penalties for failure to comply with this chapter shall be as contained within the State of Wisconsin Uniform State Traffic Deposit Schedule in effect at the time of violation.
B. 
Any registered resident convicted of a violation of this chapter may have his registration revoked for the balance of the registration term.