Can you ride way off the shoulder on Michigans state highways M-28 M-77 M-123 etc... Is there a certain distance you need to be away from the road? Need to know the TRUE facts here! Thanks -Dave
Gonna try and get my friend LAWDOG over here for some Help on this issue!!!
This is for the State of MICHIGAN!

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10365_14824-32293--,00.html




A Snowmobile May Operate on a Public Highway
Under the Following Conditions:

A snowmobile may be operated on the right-of-way of a public highway (except a limited-access highway) if it is operated at the extreme right of the open portion of the right-of-way and with the flow of traffic on the highway. Snowmobiles operated on a road right-of-way must travel in single file and shall not be operated abreast except when overtaking or passing another snowmobile.
A snowmobile may be operated on the roadway or shoulder when necessary to cross a bridge or culvert if the snowmobile is brought to a complete stop before entering onto the roadway or shoulder and the operator yields the right-of-way to any approaching motor vehicle on the highway.
A snowmobile may be operated across a public highway, other than a limited access highway, at right angles to the highway for the purpose of getting from one area to another when the operation can be done safely and another vehicle is not crossing the highway at the same time in the immediate area. An operator must bring his/her snowmobile to a complete stop before proceeding across the public highway and must yield the right-of-way to all oncoming traffic.
Snowmobiles may be operated on a highway in a county road system, which is not normally snowplowed for vehicular traffic; and on the right-of-way or shoulder when no right-of-way exists on a snowplowed highway in a county road system, outside the corporate limits of a city or village, which is designated and marked for snowmobile use by the county road commission having jurisdiction.

Here is a statement from "LAWDOG"!!!

You can ride within the right of way , but NOT on any portion on roadway that is maintained. Which also means when they grade the snow banks down along the edge, it now becomes the maintained portion. So basically the ditch is the only place you can ride. There are no exemptions for going around driveways with high snowbanks, or for popping out on the shoulder of a state highway even if there is too steep of an incline on the side of the ditch.

The only exemptions are culverts and bridges and you must completely stop and yield to vehicles before entering the shoulder...

With the stumps, and obstacles along the m roads up here its not a wise choice to run the ditches along the state highways....

I have a pamphlet that a very nice DNR officer:rolleyes2: gave us after stopping us in Grayling the last trip.

so many conflicts to what's right and wrong it's ridiculous. Take for example paradise when the swamp trail is closed. They re-route you up 123( going opposite traffic mind you) to get to the connecting trail to strongs/brimley/Paradise.

This is why from now on I will carry that pamphlet in my trunk to pull it out in case another nice DNR officer:rolleyes2: decides to pull us over again..

Snow4

Here is a statement from "LAWDOG"!!!

You can ride within the right of way , but NOT on any portion on roadway that is maintained. Which also means when they grade the snow banks down along the edge, it now becomes the maintained portion. So basically the ditch is the only place you can ride. There are no exemptions for going around driveways with high snowbanks, or for popping out on the shoulder of a state highway even if there is too steep of an incline on the side of the ditch.

The only exemptions are culverts and bridges and you must completely stop and yield to vehicles before entering the shoulder...

With the stumps, and obstacles along the m roads up here its not a wise choice to run the ditches along the state highways....

Who is lawdog? Can we get him on here? I think I would go with what is written and fight them in court if they give me a ticket. There are way too many laws pertaining to our sport that are open to officer interpretation. It doesn't say anywhere in the outline that Snow4 posted that the right-of-way needs to be unplowed or unmaintained. JMHO

I got a ticket in Irons area several years back from the DNR for riding road side on an M road (m-55).
I was told (by the officer) that sleds were not allowed roadside on any M road in MI unless the club had a variance from the state. Our trail boss here in s.w. lower said the same thing. I have been looking like crazy but I can not find any law on the books that says that.

That is the prob with MI, there doesn't seem to be any hard - fast set rules on some of the enforcement that goes on.

I have always understood that you can not ride along any M road also. I've been pulled over for it, but not ticketed.

Acorrding to snow 4s post it is Michigan law that you can but, The counties have a right to ordanance against it. Mecosta county(Big Rapids) has signs posted all over stating that you can ride on the shoulder of any road in the county. You can also do that in Osceola county although there are no signs.

Who is lawdog? Can we get him on here? JMHO

He is from another Forum Keith! He's a Michigan State policeman!:wink:
He has been told!

Lawdog,,,, good ole boy from Newberry. You ever met him Dave??

Lawdog,,,, good ole boy from Newberry. You ever met him Dave??

No...But one of his buddies gave me a friendly warning!
God...it pays to be SHD800!!!

I have met LawDog in Newberry a couple of year ago.. He was sitting on the trail on his sled in Uniform patrolling the trails..lol
He seems to be a nice man from the short talk we had with him. He was busy checking trail permits/reg ect...

on a side note, IF you are SHD800? why can't you get him over here? :rolleyes2:

Snow4

It would be great if he would stop in and take some questions from the members here.

Ya, it seems to me that if you really are the real SHD800 that he would be here shortly. :)

It would be great if he would stop in and take some questions from the members here.

Ya, it seems to me that if you really are the real SHD800 that he would be here shortly. :)
I have sent *LawDog a personal invite to our site via another site. Im wondering if he is already registered here however and would have to get a new password ect.....

I can't check for members as it's been disable by the admin but I know you moderators can..:wink:

Hopefully he will get my PM and be here shortly.

Snow4

There is a Lawdog, lawdog1155, and lawdogg_78. Just have him go thru the lost password routine or send his info to logins@snowmobileworld.com and I'll take care of it.

Ya, it seems to me that if you really are the real SHD800 that he would be here shortly. :)

He WILL be here just trust me!

Im wondering if he is already registered here however and would have to get a new password ect.....



Snow4

No he is NOT a member here! NOT yet atleast!:happy: