What authority do municipalities have to regulate snowmobiles?
Snowmobiles
are regulated by the state under Chapter 350 of the Wisconsin Statutes
and municipal peace officers have authority to enforce those
regulations. Sec. 350.17(1). Local regulation of snowmobiles is limited
by sec. 350.18. Municipalities may designate snowmobile routes and
regulate snowmobile operations on routes designated or maintained by the
municipality and may enact ordinances that are in strict conformity
with certain state statutes. A municipality may also enact an ordinance
allowing snowmobiles to operate on any portion of a roadway and shoulder
of a highway that lies within the municipality's boundaries for the
purpose of residential access or, if the municipality has an ordinance
for the purpose of residential access, for the purpose of access from
lodging. Sec. 350.18(3). The Wisconsin DOT and the snowmobile
recreational council have prepared a joint model ordinance as an
example. Following adoption of local ordinances regulating snowmobiles
or designating snowmobile routes, the clerk must "immediately" send a
copy of the ordinance to the DOT and to the municipality's law
enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the highway. Sec. 350.047.