New snowmobile laws take effect

New Off-Highway Vehicle registration and Snowmobile trail use laws will go into effect Oct. 1.

 Last spring, the 2015 Montana Legislature passed HB 167 and HB 300. The new legislation updates snowmobile and OHV permits in order to increase funding for trail maintenance and grooming programs across Montana. 

 HB 167 raises the current Off-Highway Vehicle Nonresident Temporary Use Permit from $5 to $27 per year. Increased revenues will help support OHV trail maintenance, noxious weed abatement, OHV education and enforcement efforts.

 “Revenues from the permits will bolster our OHV program funding,” said Erin Proctor, Montana State Parks OHV Program Manger. “This will allow us to better address motorized recreation needs in the state that have been continually put on hold due to lack of resources.”

 HB 300 enacts a new Snowmobile Trail Pass for Montana residents. All Montana residents operating mechanized equipment on groomed snowmobile trails will need to purchase a snowmobile Trail Pass. Mechanized equipment includes: snowmobiles, fat-tire pedal bikes, and converted motorized snow bikes. The new trail pass does not apply to rental snowmobiles or nonresidents.

 The Snowmobile Trail Pass is $18 and is valid for 3 seasons (July 1st through June 30). Revenue generated by the trail pass will go to the Montana State Parks Snowmobile Program and will be used for trail grooming as well as purchase and maintenance of grooming equipment.

 Both laws go into effect on Oct. 1. The permits may be purchased from local vendors or online at: https://app.mt.gov/als/index/index.html.

 Vendor lists are available under the individual OHV and Snowmobile Program pages at stateparks.mt.gov.

 For more information on the OHV Nonresident Temporary Use Permit contact Erin Proctor at (406) 444-7642 or eproctor@mt.gov.

Or visit: http://stateparks.mt.gov/recreation/ohvProgram.html

 For more information on the Groomed Snowmobile Trail Pass contact Seth McArthur at 444-3753 or smcarthur@mt.gov.

Or visit: http://stateparks.mt.gov/recreation/snowmobileProgram.html