Chapter 350

350.12(3j)(a)1. 1. In this paragraph:

350.12(3j)(a)1.a. a. “Public snowmobile corridor” means a snowmobile trail or other established snowmobile corridor that is open to the public but does not include a snowmobile route.

350.12(3j)(a)1.b. b. “Temporary trail use receipt” means a receipt issued by the department or an agent under this subsection that shows that an application and the required fees for a trail use sticker have been submitted to the department or an agent appointed under par. (e) 1.

350.12(3j)(a)2. 2. No person who is the owner of a snowmobile may operate, or give permission for another person to operate, a snowmobile on a public snowmobile corridor in this state unless any of the following apply:

350.12(3j)(a)2.a. a. Except as provided in this subd. 2. a., a trail use sticker issued under this subsection is displayed on the snowmobile. For a snowmobile that is required to have a plate attached under sub. (3) (c) 3., the trail use sticker may be displayed on the plate.

350.12(3j)(a)2.b. b. The operator of the snowmobile is carrying proof of a valid temporary trail use receipt for the snowmobile.

350.12(3j)(b) (b) The fee for a trail use sticker issued for a snowmobile that is exempt from registration under sub. (2) (b) or (bn) is $49.25. A trail use sticker issued for such a snowmobile may be issued only by the department and persons appointed by the department and expires on June 30 of each year.

350.12(3j)(bg) (bg)

350.12(3j)(bg)1. 1. In this paragraph, “snowmobile club” means an association organized in this state that is a member of the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs, that meets at least 3 times per year, that has at least 10 members, and that promotes responsible snowmobiling.

350.12(3j)(bg)3. 3. The fee for a trail use sticker issued for a snowmobile that is registered under sub. (3) and that is owned by a person who is both a member of a snowmobile club and a member of the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs is $9.25.

350.12(3j)(bg)4. 4. The fee for a trail use sticker issued for a snowmobile that is registered under sub. (3) and that is owned by a person who does not meet the requirements under subd. 3. is $29.25.

350.12(3j)(bg)5. 5. A trail use sticker issued for a snowmobile for which a fee is charged under this paragraph may be issued only by the department and persons appointed by the department and expires on June 30 of each year.

350.12(3j)(c) (c) There is no fee for a trail use sticker issued for a snowmobile that is registered under s. 23.35 or 350.122. The department or Indian tribe or band shall issue a trail use sticker for such a snowmobile when it issues the registration certificate for the snowmobile. The department shall provide Indian tribes or bands that register snowmobiles under s. 23.35 or 350.122 with a supply of trail use stickers.

350.12(3j)(d) (d) A snowmobile that is registered as an antique under sub. (3) (b) or that is exempt from registration under sub. (2) (a) or (d) is exempt from having a trail use sticker displayed, and from carrying a temporary trail use receipt, under par. (a).

350.12(3j)(e) (e)

350.12(3j)(e)1. 1. The department may appoint any person who is not an employee of the department as the department’s agent to issue temporary trail use receipts and collect the fees for these receipts.

350.12(3j)(e)2. 2. Any person, including the department, who issues a trail use sticker or a temporary trail use receipt shall collect in addition to the fee under par. (b) or (bg) 3. or 4. an issuing fee of 75 cents. The agent may retain 50 cents of the issuing fee to compensate the agent for the agent’s services in issuing the temporary trail use receipt.

350.12(3j)(e)3. 3. The department shall establish by rule procedures for issuing trail use stickers and temporary trail use receipts, and the department may promulgate rules regulating the activities of persons who are authorized to be agents under this paragraph.

350.12(3j)(e)4. 4. All fees remitted to or collected by the department under subd. 2. shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (9) (hu).

350.12(3m) (3m) Snowmobile registration and trail use sticker receipts.

350.12(3m)(a) (a) Deposited in the conservation fund. All moneys that are collected under this section and that are not issuing fees retained by agents appointed by the department shall be deposited in the conservation fund and credited to the snowmobile account established under s. 25.29 (1m).

350.12(3m)(d) (d) Estimate. On July 1 of each even-numbered year, the department shall estimate as accurately as possible the total registration receipts for a 2-year period and adjust the estimate periodically to reflect actual receipts.

350.12(4) (4) Aids; appropriation; lapses.

350.12(4)(a) (a) Enforcement, administration and related costs. The moneys appropriated from s. 20.370 (3) (ak) and (aq), (5) (es) and (9) (mu) and (mw) may be used for the following:

350.12(4)(a)1. 1. Registration costs;

350.12(4)(a)2. 2. The cost of the snowmobile recreational council;

350.12(4)(a)2m. 2m. The costs incurred by coroners or medical examiners in the submission of reports and blood specimens and by laboratories in the analysis of blood specimens under s. 350.155;

350.12(4)(a)3. 3. The cost of a snowmobile safety and accident reporting program in the sum of $80,000 annually;

350.12(4)(a)3m. 3m. The cost of state law enforcement efforts as appropriated under s. 20.370 (3) (ak) and (aq); and

350.12(4)(a)4. 4. An amount necessary to pay the cost of law enforcement aids to counties as appropriated under s. 20.370 (5) (es). On or before June 1, a county shall file with the department on forms prescribed by the department a detailed statement of the costs incurred by the county in the enforcement of this chapter during the preceding May 1 to April 30. The department shall audit the statements and determine the county’s net costs for enforcement of this chapter. The department shall compute the state aids on the basis of 100 percent of these net costs and shall pay these aids on or before October 1. If the state aids payable to counties exceed the moneys available for such purpose, the department shall prorate the payments.

350.12(4)(am) (am) Enforcement aids to department. Of the amounts appropriated under s. 20.370 (3) (ak) and (aq), the department shall allocate $26,000 in each fiscal year to be used exclusively for the purchase of snowmobiles or trailers to carry snowmobiles, or both, to be used in state law enforcement efforts.

350.12(4)(b) (b) Trail aids and related costs. The moneys appropriated under s. 20.370 (1) (mq) and (5) (cb), (cr), (cs), and (cw) shall be used for development and maintenance, the cooperative snowmobile sign program, major reconstruction or rehabilitation to improve bridges on existing approved trails, trail rehabilitation, signing of snowmobile routes, state snowmobile trails and areas, and real-time online tracking of snowmobile trail grooming and geographic information system mapping of snowmobile trails. The department may also obligate from the appropriation account under s. 20.866 (2) (ta) moneys for any of these purposes, except maintenance and except online tracking of snowmobile trail grooming and mapping of snowmobile trails. Except as provided in par. (bd), the moneys shall be distributed as follows:

350.12(4)(b)1. 1. State aids and funds for maintenance costs shall be 100 percent of the actual cost of maintaining the trail per year up to a $300 per mile per year maximum, except as provided in pars. (bg) to (br). Qualifying trails are trails approved by the board as snowmobile trails. State aid for development may equal 100 percent of development expenses. Aids for major reconstruction or rehabilitation projects to improve bridges may equal 100 percent of eligible costs. Aids for trail rehabilitation projects may equal 100 percent of eligible costs. Development shall begin the same year the land is acquired. Moneys available for development shall be distributed on a 100 percent grant basis, 75 percent at the time of approval but no later than January 1 and 25 percent upon completion of the project. A county application may include a request for development, rehabilitation or maintenance of trails, or any combination thereof. Trail routes, sizes and specifications shall be prescribed only by the board.

350.12(4)(b)2. 2. Not more than $15,000 annually for a cooperative sign program with snowmobile clubs for club snowmobile trails open to the public and meeting minimum trail construction standards. Clubs may apply to the department for free signs on forms prescribed by the department and submit required documentation as prescribed by departmental rule on or before April 15 of each year.

350.12(4)(b)3. 3. Not more than $30,000 for a route signing program of aids to cities, villages, towns or counties of up to 100 percent of the cost of initial signing of snowmobile routes which connect authorized trails or which offer entrance to or exit from trails leading to such municipalities. Aid may be provided under this subdivision to cities, villages, towns and counties for up to 100 percent of the cost of placing signs developed under s. 350.108 (1) (b) which briefly explain the intoxicated snowmobiling law along snowmobile routes. Applications and documentation shall be submitted to the department by April 15 of each year on forms prescribed by departmental rule.

350.12(4)(b)4. 4. For the maintenance, rehabilitation and development of snowmobile trails and areas on state lands and for major rehabilitation of snowmobile bridges, 100 percent of the actual cost for development and rehabilitation and 100 percent of the actual cost of maintaining the trails per year up to the per mile per year maximum specified under subd. 1. Qualifying trails are those approved by the board. Trail routes, sizes and specifications shall be prescribed only by the board.

350.12(4)(b)5. 5. For real-time tracking of snowmobile trail grooming through the department’s online trail grooming reporting system and to develop and maintain an accurate, statewide geographic information system map of snowmobile trails, 100 percent of the direct payments to a qualified vendor to provide these services.

350.12(4)(bc) (bc) Development costs. For the purposes of par. (b) (intro.), 1. and 4., development includes the following:

350.12(4)(bc)1. 1. The purchase of land in fee simple.

350.12(4)(bc)2. 2. The acquisition of interests in land by lease, easement, permit, or other agreement if the term of the acquisition is for a period of 3 years or longer.

350.12(4)(bd) (bd) Match for stewardship funding. Moneys obligated from the appropriation account under s. 20.866 (2) (ta) for a project under par. (b) shall be limited to no more than 80 percent of the cost of the project. The county, city, village, or town receiving the aid is responsible for the remainder of the project cost.

350.12(4)(be) (be) Maintenance costs. In addition to paying for trail maintenance costs, payments received for maintenance under par. (b) 1. or 4., par. (bg) or (bm) may be used for any of the following:

350.12(4)(be)1. 1. The purchase of liability insurance.

350.12(4)(be)2. 2. The acquisition of interests in land, by lease, easement, permit or other agreement if the term of the acquisition is for a period of less than 3 years.

350.12(4)(bg) (bg) Supplemental trail aids; funding.

350.12(4)(bg)1. 1. Of the moneys appropriated under s. 20.370 (5) (cs), the department shall make available in fiscal year 2001-02 and each fiscal year thereafter an amount equal to the amount calculated for the applicable fiscal year under s. 25.29 (1) (d) 2m. b. or 3. b. to make payments to the department or a county under par. (bm) for trail maintenance costs incurred in the previous fiscal year that exceed the maximum specified under par. (b) 1. before expending any of the amount for the other purposes specified in par. (b).

350.12(4)(bg)2. 2. The department shall calculate an amount equal to the number of trail use stickers issued under sub. (3j) in the previous fiscal year to owners of snowmobiles that are exempt from registration under sub. (2) multiplied by $47 and shall credit this amount to the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (5) (cw). From the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (5) (cw), the department shall make payments to the department or a county for the purposes specified in par. (b). The department shall make payments under par. (bm) for trail maintenance costs that were incurred in the previous fiscal year and that exceed the maximum specified under par. (b) 1. before making payments for any of the other purposes specified in par. (b).

350.12(4)(bg)3. 3. The department may, by rule, limit the amount of aid under this paragraph to 5 times the per mile maximum for maintenance specified under par. (b) 1.

350.12(4)(bm) (bm) Supplemental trail aids; eligibility. A county or the department shall be eligible for payments under par. (bg) for a given fiscal year if it applies for the aid and if all of the following apply:

350.12(4)(bm)1. 1. The actual cost incurred by the department or the county in maintaining its trails that are qualified under par. (b) 1. or 4. in the previous fiscal year exceeds the maximum of $300 per mile per year under par. (b) 1.

350.12(4)(bm)2. 2. Of the actual cost incurred by the department or the county in maintaining its trails that are qualified under par. (b) 1. or 4. for the fiscal year applicable under subd. 1., the actual cost incurred in grooming the trails exceeds a maximum of $200 per mile per year.

350.12(4)(bn) (bn) Supplemental trail aids; payments. Each county shall submit its application for aid under par. (bm) before the August 1 immediately following June 30 of the fiscal year for which the county is applying. Before the September 15 immediately following the date of application, the department shall make an initial payment to each county that is equal to 50 percent of the amount applied for. After determining under pars. (bg) and (bm) the total amounts due all counties, the department shall notify each county, before the December 1 immediately following the date of the initial payment, of the balance still owing. If the department determines that the total amount for which the county is eligible is less than the amount applied for, the department shall deduct the difference from the balance paid to the county.

350.12(4)(br) (br) Supplemental trail aids; insufficient funding. If the aid that is payable to counties and to the department under par. (bm) exceeds the moneys available under par. (bg), the department may prorate the payments or may request the joint committee on finance to take action under s. 13.101. The requirement of a finding of emergency under s. 13.101 (3) (a) 1. does not apply to such a request.

350.12(4)(c) (c) Lapses.

350.12(4)(c)1. 1. Any moneys appropriated under s. 20.370 (1) (mq), (3) (aq) or (9) (mw) that lapse shall revert to the snowmobile account in the conservation fund.

350.12(4)(c)2. 2. If any moneys appropriated under s. 20.370 (9) (mu) lapse, a portion of those moneys shall revert to the snowmobile account in the conservation fund. The department shall calculate that portion by multiplying the total amount lapsing from the appropriation by the same percentage the department used for the fiscal year to determine the amount to be expended under the appropriation for snowmobile registration.

350.12 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 50, Wis. adm. code.

350.12(5) (5) Registration decals and trail use stickers to be displayed.

350.12(5)(a) (a) The owner of the snowmobile shall attach the registration decals to the snowmobile in a prominent place, and shall maintain the registration decals in a legible condition at all times. Decals shall be not larger than 3 inches in height and 6 inches in width. Registration decals are to be applied on both sides of the cowling of the snowmobile. The owner of the snowmobile shall attach the trail use sticker to the snowmobile in the manner promulgated by rule by the department.

350.12(5)(b) (b) The person operating a snowmobile shall at all times carry proof of the registration certificate or, for an owner who purchased a snowmobile and who has received a temporary operating receipt but who has not yet received the registration certificate, proof of the temporary operating receipt.

350.12(5)(c) (c) The operator of a snowmobile shall exhibit, upon demand, proof of the registration certificate or, for an owner who purchased a snowmobile and who has received a temporary operating receipt but who has not yet received the registration certificate, proof of the temporary operating receipt for inspection by any person authorized to enforce this section as provided under s. 350.17 (1) and (3).

350.12(5)(cm) (cm) A person may operate a snowmobile without having the registration decals displayed as provided under par. (a) if the owner has received a validated registration receipt and if the operator of the snowmobile complies with pars. (b) and (c).

350.12(5)(d) (d) At the end of the registration period the department shall send the owner of each snowmobile a renewal application. The owner shall sign the renewal application and submit the application and the proper fee to the department or to an agent appointed under sub. (3h) (a) 3. using one of the procedures specified in sub. (3h) (ag) 1.

350.12(5)(e) (e) This subsection does not apply to any snowmobile to which a plate and decal are attached as required under sub. (3) (c) 3.

350.12(6) (6) Change of address. Whenever the owner of a registered snowmobile changes his or her address, the owner shall within 15 days thereafter notify the department in writing of the new address and of the registration numbers awarded to the owner. At the same time the owner shall endorse the new address on the owner’s registration certificates.

350.12(7) (7) Sales and use taxes. The department shall collect sales and use taxes due under s. 77.61 (1) on any snowmobile registered under this section and the report in respect to those taxes. The department shall use collection and accounting methods approved by the department of revenue.

350.12 History History: 1971 c. 211, 277; 1973 c. 298; 1975 c. 39 ss. 693g to 693m, 734; 1975 c. 224; 1977 c. 29, 402; 1979 c. 32; 1979 c. 34 ss. 1072, 2102 (39) (a); 1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 20, 294, 295; 1983 a. 27 ss. 1709, 1710, 2202 (38); 1983 a. 36, 405; 1985 a. 29 s. 3202 (39); 1985 a. 68, 322; 1985 a. 332 ss. 211, 253; 1987 a. 27, 129, 399; 1989 a. 31, 270, 336; 1991 a. 39, 269, 316; 1993 a. 16, 405, 436; 1995 a. 27, 225; 1997 a. 27, 237; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 166, 321; 2005 a. 25, 481; 2007 a. 226; 2011 a. 32, 257; 2013 a. 20, 142, 233; 2015 a. 55, 89; 2017 a. 59, 161; 2017 a. 364 s. 49; 2021 a. 58; 2023 a. 110.

350.12 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. NR 6.11, 6.12, and 19.01, Wis. adm. code.

350.122 350.122 Lac du Flambeau registration program.

350.122(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

350.122(1)(a) (a) “Band” means the Lac du Flambeau band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

350.122(1)(b) (b) “Reservation” means the territory within the boundaries of the Lac du Flambeau reservation that were in existence on April 10, 1996.

350.122(2) (2) Authorization for issuance. The band may issue registration certificates for public use or private use for snowmobiles that are equivalent to the registration certificates for public use or private use that are issued by the department. The band may not register snowmobiles as antiques and may not issue registration certificates to political subdivisions of this state. The band may renew and transfer a registration certificate that it or the department has issued. The band may issue duplicates of only those registration certificates that it issues under this section.

350.122(3) (3) Requirements for issuance; fees; periods of validity.

350.122(3)(a) (a) For issuing or renewing any registration certificate under this section, the band shall collect the same fee that would be collected for the equivalent registration certificate under s. 350.12 (3) (a). For transferring a registration certificate under this section, the band shall collect the same fee that would be collected for the transfer under s. 350.12 (3) (a) 3. For issuing a duplicate registration certificate under this section, the band shall collect the same fee that would be collected for the duplicate under s. 350.12 (3) (e).

350.122(3)(b) (b) The band may not issue, renew or otherwise process registration certificates under this section in conjunction with discount coupons or as part of a promotion or other merchandising offer.

350.122(3)(c) (c) For a registration certificate issued, transferred or renewed under this section, the period of validity shall be the same as it would be for the equivalent registration certificate under s. 350.12 (3) (a).

350.122(3)(d) (d) The band may issue, renew or otherwise process registration certificates under this section only to persons who appear in person on the reservation.

350.122(4) (4) Requirements for registration: procedures, applications and decals.

350.122(4)(a) (a) The band shall use registration applications and certificates that are substantially similar to those under s. 350.12 with regard to length, legibility and information content.

350.122(4)(b) (b) The band shall use registration decals that are substantially similar to those under s. 350.12 with regard to color, size, legibility, information content, and placement on the snowmobile.

350.122(4)(c) (c) The band shall use a sequential numbering system that includes a series of letters or initials that identify the band as the issuing authority.

350.122(4)(d) (d) The band shall establish procedures that are substantially similar to the procedures specified in s. 350.12 (3) (a) 2., 3. and 4., (5) (d) and (6) and to the procedures to be used for validating applications for purposes of s. 350.12 (5) (b) and (c).

350.122(5) (5) Registration information; records; tax collection.

350.122(5)(a) (a) The band shall provide registration information to the state in one of the following ways:

350.122(5)(a)1. 1. By transmitting all additions, changes or deletions of registration information to persons identified in the agreement described under sub. (6), for incorporation into the registration records of this state, within one working day after the addition, change or deletion.

350.122(5)(a)2. 2. By establishing a 24-hour per day data retrieval system, consisting of either a law enforcement agency with 24-hour per day staffing or a computerized data retrieval system to which law enforcement officials of this state have access at all times.

350.122(5)(b) (b) Before June 1 annually, the band shall submit a report to the department notifying it of the number of each type of registration certificate that the band issued, transferred or renewed for the period beginning on April 1 of the previous year and ending on March 31 of the year in which the report is submitted.

350.122(5)(c) (c) For law enforcement purposes, the band shall make available for inspection by the department during normal business hours the band’s records of all registration certificates issued, renewed or otherwise processed, including copies of all applications made for certificates.