Chapter 350

350.138(5)(b) (b) Except as provided under par. (c), if the department issues a permit to an applicant under this section, the applicant shall pay the rail authority $1,500 within 30 days after the date on which the permit is issued, to compensate the rail authority for the cost of constructing the snowmobile rail crossing and to pay for the use of the snowmobile rail crossing by snowmobile operators.

350.138(5)(c) (c) Biennially, beginning on January 1, 2004, the department shall adjust the fee under par. (b) by a percentage that is equal to the percentage change in the U.S. consumer price index for all urban consumers, U.S. city average, for the 24-month period ending on December 31 of the previous calendar year.

350.138(6) (6) Liability insurance. The department shall require a snowmobile organization to maintain in effect liability insurance to indemnify the applicable rail authority for damages resulting from the design, construction, maintenance, existence, or use of a snowmobile rail crossing for which a permit is issued under this section, except that the department may not require the snowmobile organization to maintain in effect liability insurance to indemnify the applicable rail authority for injuries sustained by a person engaged in a recreational activity, if the rail authority would be immune from liability for those injuries under s. 895.52. Regardless of the number of snowmobile rail crossings that the snowmobile organization maintains under this section and s. 350.139, the amount of the liability insurance that is required to be maintained under this subsection shall be at least $2,000,000 for each snowmobile organization. The snowmobile organization shall designate the applicable rail authority as a named insured on the policy. Any liability insurance that is required under this subsection for the purpose of indemnifying a rail authority that is a rail transit body shall also indemnify the owners and operators of any railroad using the tracks of the rail transit body. Annually, beginning on December 1, 2001, each snowmobile organization that is required to maintain liability insurance under this subsection shall furnish proof of that insurance to the applicable rail authority and to the department.

350.138(7) (7) Rights-of-way. For each application approved under sub. (4), the applicable rail authority shall give the snowmobile organization access to any right-of-way that the rail authority may have to permit the snowmobile organization to construct and maintain the snowmobile rail crossing.

350.138(8) (8) Revocation of permits. The department may revoke a permit that it issued if the department determines that the snowmobile rail crossing is not constructed or maintained in compliance with the rules promulgated under s. 350.137. The department shall revoke a permit that it issued if the snowmobile organization does not maintain any liability insurance that is required under sub. (6) or the snowmobile rail crossing is not maintained for use by snowmobiles for at least 5 winters in any 10-year period. The 10-year period for purposes of this subsection shall begin on the first December 15 following the date of the issuance of the permit.

350.138(9) (9) Inspection authorized. The department or the office of the commissioner of railroads may inspect the site of a proposed snowmobile rail crossing or the site of a snowmobile rail crossing for which a permit has been issued to determine whether there are grounds to refuse to issue a permit under sub. (4) or to revoke a permit under sub. (8).

350.138 History History: 1993 a. 120; 2001 a. 14.

350.138 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. NR 6.40, 6.41, 6.42, 6.43, 6.44, 6.45, and 6.46, Wis. adm. code.

350.139 350.139 Established snowmobile rail crossings.

350.139(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

350.139(1)(a) (a) “Established snowmobile rail crossing” means a snowmobile rail crossing that has been used by snowmobiles, or maintained by a snowmobile organization for use by snowmobiles, for at least 5 winters of the last 10 years.

350.139(1)(b) (b) “Rail authority” has the meaning given in s. 350.138 (1) (b).

350.139(1)(c) (c) “Rail transit body” has the meaning given in s. 350.138 (1) (c).

350.139(1)(d) (d) “Snowmobile organization” has the meaning given in s. 350.138 (1) (f).

350.139(2) (2) No permit required. An established snowmobile rail crossing does not require a permit under s. 350.138.

350.139(3) (3) Charges prohibited. Neither the department nor a rail authority may charge a fee or any other amount for the use of an established snowmobile rail crossing or for the use of a right-of-way for the established snowmobile rail crossing, unless otherwise agreed upon by the rail authority and a snowmobile organization.

350.139(4) (4) Use and maintenance requirements. The department shall require a snowmobile organization that uses or maintains any part of an established snowmobile rail crossing to do all of the following:

350.139(4)(a) (a) Maintain that portion of the established snowmobile rail crossing that is outside of the portion of the snowmobile rail crossing that extends outward 4 feet from each outer rail.

350.139(4)(b) (b) Maintain in effect liability insurance to indemnify the applicable rail authority for damages resulting from the design, construction, maintenance, existence, or use of the established snowmobile rail crossing, except that the department shall not require the snowmobile organization to maintain in effect liability insurance to indemnify the applicable rail authority for injuries sustained by a person engaged in a recreational activity, if the rail authority would be immune from liability for those injuries under s. 895.52. Regardless of the number of established snowmobile rail crossings and snowmobile rail crossings under s. 350.138 that each snowmobile organization maintains, the amount of the liability insurance that is required to be maintained under this paragraph shall be at least $2,000,000 for each snowmobile organization. The snowmobile organization shall designate the applicable rail authority as a named insured on the policy. Any liability insurance that is required under this paragraph for the purpose of indemnifying a rail authority that is a rail transit body shall also indemnify the owners and operators of any railroad using the tracks of the rail transit body. Annually, beginning on December 1, 2001, each snowmobile organization that is required to maintain liability insurance under this paragraph shall furnish proof of that insurance to the applicable rail authority and to the department.

350.139(5) (5) Inspection authorized. The department or the office of the commissioner of railroads may inspect an established snowmobile rail crossing to determine whether the snowmobile organization maintaining the crossing is in compliance with the requirements imposed under sub. (4).

350.139 History History: 1993 a. 120; 2001 a. 14.

350.139 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. NR 6.40, 6.41, 6.42, 6.43, 6.44, 6.45, and 6.46, Wis. adm. code.

350.1395 350.1395 Snowmobile rail crossings; closing and removal; review of rail authorities; insurance rules.

350.1395(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

350.1395(1)(b) (b) “Rail authority” has the meaning given in s. 350.138 (1) (b).

350.1395(1)(c) (c) “Snowmobile organization” has the meaning given in s. 350.138 (1) (f).

350.1395(2) (2) Closing of crossings.

350.1395(2)(a) (a) A rail authority may close or remove a snowmobile rail crossing if it enters into a written agreement with a snowmobile organization that holds a permit under s. 350.138 or that maintains an established snowmobile rail crossing under s. 350.139 under which the snowmobile organization agrees to allow the rail authority to close or remove the snowmobile rail crossing. Each rail authority that enters into a written agreement with a snowmobile organization under this paragraph to close or remove a snowmobile rail crossing shall notify the department of the agreement and that the snowmobile rail crossing has been closed or removed.

350.1395(2)(b) (b)

350.1395(2)(b)1. 1. A rail authority may petition the department to authorize the rail authority to close or remove a snowmobile rail crossing. The rail authority may file a petition under this subdivision without requesting or obtaining a written agreement from the snowmobile organization to close or remove the snowmobile rail crossing.

350.1395(2)(b)2. 2. The department shall hold a hearing on a petition filed under subd. 1. after giving notice of the hearing to the rail authority, the snowmobile organization, and the office of the commissioner of railroads. The hearing shall be a contested case hearing under ch. 227. The department’s order shall be a final order subject to judicial review under ch. 227.

350.1395(2)(b)3. 3. The department shall grant a rail authority’s petition under subd. 2. to close or remove a snowmobile rail crossing if, after a hearing under subd. 2., and after giving substantial weight to the office of the commissioner of railroads’ testimony or report given under s. 195.03 (30) (b), the department finds that any of the following applies:

350.1395(2)(b)3.a. a. The snowmobile rail crossing has not been maintained for use for at least 5 winters in the 10 years preceding the year in which the petition was filed.

350.1395(2)(b)3.b. b. The snowmobile rail crossing poses a substantial danger to public safety.

350.1395(2)(b)3.c. c. Another snowmobile rail crossing is located near the snowmobile rail crossing that is the subject of the petition and the other snowmobile rail crossing provides a crossing for snowmobiles that is adequate and accessible.

350.1395(2)(b)3.d. d. The snowmobile rail crossing has a substantial adverse effect on the operations of the rail authority.

350.1395(3) (3) Review of actions of rail authority. A snowmobile organization may request the department to review any failure of a rail authority, and a rail authority may request the department to review any failure of a snowmobile organization, to comply with s. 350.138 or 350.139, this section, or rules promulgated under these sections or s. 350.137. The department shall decide the matter after notice and a contested case hearing. If the department finds that the rail authority or snowmobile organization failed to comply with s. 350.138 or 350.139, this section, or rules promulgated under these sections or s. 350.137, the department shall issue an order directing the rail authority or snowmobile organization to take appropriate action in order to comply with that section. The order issued by the department is a final order of the department subject to judicial review under ch. 227.

350.1395(4) (4) Rules for liability insurance.

350.1395(4)(a) (a) The department may promulgate rules to increase the minimum amounts of liability insurance required under ss. 350.138 (6) and 350.139 (4) (b) based on the need for, and the availability and affordability of, such insurance.

350.1395(4)(b) (b) The department may not promulgate a rule under this subsection without first consulting with each rail authority in this state that has furnished the department with the information required under s. 350.138 (2m), an established snowmobile association that represents snowmobile clubs, as defined in s. 350.138 (1) (e), in this state, and the office of the commissioner of railroads.

350.1395 History History: 1993 a. 120; 2001 a. 14, 104.

350.1395 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. NR 6.40, 6.41, 6.42, 6.43, 6.44, 6.45, and 6.46, Wis. adm. code.

350.14 350.14 Duties of snowmobile recreational council.

350.14(1) (1) The snowmobile recreational council shall carry out studies and make recommendations to the legislature, governor, department of natural resources and department of transportation on all matters related to this chapter or otherwise affecting snowmobiles and snowmobiling.

350.14(2) (2) The department shall prepare written minutes of each meeting of the snowmobile recreational council and shall make them available to any interested party upon request.

350.14 History History: 1971 c. 277; 1991 a. 39.

350.145 350.145 Recommendations of the snowmobile recreational council.

350.145(1) (1) Procedure required. To assist the snowmobile recreational council in performing its duty to make recommendations under s. 350.14 (1), the department and the snowmobile recreational council shall follow the procedures under sub. (2).

350.145(2) (2) Recommendations for rules.

350.145(2)(a) (a) The department shall distribute any rule that it is proposing and that affects snowmobiles or snowmobiling to each member of the snowmobile recreational council for his or her review and comment at least 20 days before the notice stating that the proposed rule is in final draft form is submitted to the legislature in the manner provided under s. 227.19 (2). A member of the snowmobile recreational council may submit his or her written comments on the proposed rule to the department.

350.145(2)(b) (b) The department shall include in the report required under s. 227.19 (3) the written comments that it receives under par. (a).

350.145(3) (3) Recommendations for executive budget bill.

350.145(3)(a) (a)

350.145(3)(a)1. 1. Before June 30 of each even-numbered year, the department shall consult with the snowmobile recreational council on the proposed changes for the succeeding biennium in the appropriations and laws that affect snowmobiles and snowmobiling.

350.145(3)(a)2. 2. A member of the snowmobile recreational council may submit before August 1 of the even-numbered year his or her written comments on the proposed changes specified in subd. 1. to the secretary of natural resources.

350.145(3)(b) (b) The secretary of natural resources shall submit any written comments that the secretary receives under par. (a) 2. to the natural resources board and to the secretary of administration with the department’s submission of its budget report under s. 16.42.

350.145(3)(c) (c) Before March 1 of each odd-numbered year, the snowmobile recreational council shall meet and review the provisions that are included in the executive budget bill or bills and that affect snowmobiles and snowmobiling. A member of the snowmobile recreational council may submit his or her written comments on these provisions to the secretary of natural resources before March 10 of each odd-numbered year.

350.145(3)(d) (d) The secretary shall submit the written comments that he or she receives under par. (a) 2. or (c) before March 10 of the odd-numbered year to the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance before March 15 of that odd-numbered year.

350.145 History History: 1991 a. 39; 2013 a. 168.

350.15 350.15 Accidents and accident reports.

350.15(2) (2) Duty to render aid. Insofar as the operator is capable of doing, the operator of a snowmobile involved in a snowmobile accident shall render to other persons affected thereby such assistance as is practicable and necessary to save them from or minimize any danger caused by the accident and shall give his or her name and address and identification of his or her snowmobile to any person injured and to the owner of any property damaged in the accident.

350.15(3) (3) Duty to report.

350.15(3)(a) (a) If a snowmobile accident results in the death of any person, or in an injury that requires the treatment of a person by a physician, the operator of each snowmobile involved in the accident shall give notice of the accident to a conservation warden or local law enforcement officer as soon as possible and, within 10 days after the accident, shall file a written report of the accident with the department on the form prescribed by it.

350.15(3)(b) (b) If the operator of a snowmobile is physically incapable of making the report required by this subsection and there was another occupant on the snowmobile at the time of the accident capable of making the report that other occupant shall make such report.

350.15(4) (4) Reports not used as evidence. No report required by this section to be filed with the department shall be used as evidence in any trial, civil or criminal, arising out of an accident, except that the department shall furnish upon demand of any person who has or claims to have made such a report, or upon demand of any court, a certificate showing that a specified accident report has or has not been made to the department solely to prove a compliance or a failure to comply with the requirement that such a report be made.

350.15(5) (5) Investigations.

350.15(5)(a) (a) The department shall investigate any snowmobile accident that results in the death of any person.

350.15(5)(b) (b) The department may investigate any snowmobile accident that results in an injury that requires the treatment of a person by a physician.

350.15(6) (6) Exception. This section does not apply to snowmobile accidents that occur during a sanctioned race or derby.

350.15 History History: 1971 c. 277; 1983 a. 27; 1987 a. 403; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 316; 2003 a. 166.

350.15 Annotation Reports under sub. (3) are not confidential documents. 76 Atty. Gen. 56.

350.155 350.155 Coroners and medical examiners to report; require blood specimen.

350.155(1) (1) Every coroner or medical examiner shall on or before the 10th day of each month report in writing to the department the death of any person within the coroner’s or medical examiner’s jurisdiction during the preceding calendar month as the result of an accident involving a snowmobile and the circumstances of such accidents.

350.155(2) (2) In cases of death involving a snowmobile in which the decedent died within 6 hours of the time of the accident, a blood specimen of at least 10 cc. shall be withdrawn from the body of the decedent within 12 hours after death, by the coroner or medical examiner or by a physician so designated by the coroner or medical examiner or by a qualified person at the direction of such physician. All funeral directors shall obtain a release from the coroner or medical examiner prior to proceeding with embalming any body coming under the scope of this section. The blood so drawn shall be forwarded to a laboratory approved by the department of health services for analysis of the alcoholic content of such blood specimen. The coroner or medical examiner causing the blood to be withdrawn shall be notified of the results of each analysis made and shall forward the results of each such analysis to the department of health services. The department of health services shall keep a record of all such examinations to be used for statistical purposes only. The cumulative results of the examinations, without identifying the individuals involved, shall be disseminated and made public by the department of health services. The department shall reimburse coroners and medical examiners for the costs incurred in submitting reports and taking blood specimens and laboratories for the costs incurred in analyzing blood specimens under this section.

350.155 History History: 1973 c. 298; 1975 c. 39 s. 732 (2); 1975 c. 199; 1983 a. 485; 1991 a. 316; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a).

350.17 350.17 Enforcement.

350.17(1) (1) Any officer of the state traffic patrol under s. 110.07 (1), inspector under s. 110.07 (3), warden of the department under s. 23.10, county sheriff or municipal peace officer may enforce the provisions of this chapter.

350.17(2) (2) No person operating a snowmobile shall refuse to stop after being requested or signaled to do so by a law enforcement officer or a commission warden, as defined in s. 939.22 (5).

350.17(3) (3) Notwithstanding subs. (1) and (2), no law enforcement officer may stop a snowmobile operator for a violation of a statutory provision under this chapter or a rule promulgated or an ordinance adopted under this chapter unless the law enforcement officer has reasonable cause to believe the snowmobile operator has committed such a violation.

350.17 History History: 1971 c. 277; 1989 a. 31; 2007 a. 27.

350.17 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 23.50 concerning enforcement procedures.

350.18 350.18 Local ordinances.

350.18(1) (1) Counties, towns, cities and villages may regulate snowmobile operation on snowmobile trails maintained by or on snowmobile routes designated by the county, city, town or village.

350.18(2) (2) Any county, town, city or village may enact an ordinance that is in strict conformity with ss. 350.02 to 350.05, 350.07 to 350.107, 350.11, 350.12, 350.13, 350.135, 350.15 to 350.17, 350.19 and 350.99.

350.18(3) (3) 

350.18(3)(a) (a) A town, city or village may enact an ordinance allowing the operation of snowmobiles on a roadway and shoulder of a highway for any portion of a highway that lies within the boundaries of the town, city or village for the purpose of residential access, or for the purpose of access from lodging if the town, city or village also enacts or has in effect an ordinance for the purpose of residential access.

350.18(3)(b) (b) The department and the snowmobile recreational council shall jointly prepare a model ordinance as an example of an ordinance that a town, city or village may enact under par. (a).

350.18 History History: 1971 c. 277; 1991 a. 39, 269; 1993 a. 436; 1995 a. 61.

350.18 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 23.50 concerning enforcement procedures.