Summary of Illinois Snowmobiling Law
 
Article 1 | Article 2 | Article 3 | Article 4 | Article 5 | Article 6
 
The following is a general guide to the highlights of the Illinois Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act. The entire Act may be found in the Illinois Compiled Statutes, Chapter 625. More complete information is available from Department of Natural Resources regional offices or Law Enforcement Division personnel. Please remember that regulations on state- or county-managed public lands may be more restrictive. Be sure to check area managers to determine local regulations. The information is based on laws in effect as of 2000 and is subject to change.
 
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS
 
Snowmobile
"Snowmobile" means a self-propelled device designed for travel on snow or ice or natural terrain, steered by skis or runners, and supported in part by skis, belts, or cleats.
Operate
"Operate" means to ride in or on, other than as a passenger, use or control the operation of a snowmobile in any manner, whether or not the snowmobile is underway.
Highway
"Highway" means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
Roadway
"Roadway" means that portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder.
Cowling
"Cowling" means the forward portion of a snowmobile surrounding the clutch and motor assembly.
 
ARTICLE 2. INSPECTION
 
Agents of the Department of Natural Resources or other duly authorized police officers may stop and inspect any snowmobile at any time for the purpose of determining if the provisions of this Act are being complied with.
 
ARTICLE 3. REGISTRATION
 
Operation of Unnumbered Snowmobiles. Except as hereinafter provided, no person shall, after the effective date of this Act, operate any snowmobile within the State unless such snowmobile has been registered and numbered in accordance with the provisions of this Article, and unless the certificate of number awarded to such snowmobile is in full force and effect.
 
Exception from Numbering Provisions of this Act. A snowmobile shall not be required to be numbered under this Act if it is:
 
A. Owned and used by the United Stated, another state, or a political subdivision thereof, but such snowmobiles shall display the name of the owner on the cowling thereof.
 
B. Covered by a valid registration of license or another state, province or country which is the domicile of the owner of the snowmobile and is not operated within this State on more than 30 consecutive days in any calendar year.
 
C. Owned and operated on lands owned by the owner or operator or on lands to which he has a contractual right other than as a member of a club or association, provided the snowmobile is not operated elsewhere in this state.
     
 

D.

Designed for use by small children primarily as a toy and used only on private property and not on any public use trail.
Identification Number Application. The owner of each snowmobile requiring numbering by this State shall file a snowmobile application for number with the Department of Natural Resources. The application shall be signed By the owner of the snowmobile and shall be accompanied by the required documents and appropriate fees.
 
Identification Number Display. The Department shall issue to the snowmobile owner two registration expiration decals with the number awarded to that snowmobile imprinted upon the decals. The owner shall apply these decals on each side of the cowling of such snowmobile. The certificate of number shall be pocket size and shall be available at all times for inspection on the snowmobile for which issued, whenever such snowmobile is in operation. (See illustration)
 
ARTICLE 4. SNOWMOBILE EQUIPMENT
 
All snowmobiles operating with the state of Illinois shall be equipped with:
 
A. At least one white headlamp having a minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity to exhibit a white light plainly visible from a distance of at least 500 feet ahead during hours of darkness under normal atmospheric conditions.
 
B. At least one red tail lamp having a minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity to exhibit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear during hours of darkness under normal atmospheric conditions.
 
C. A brake system in good mechanical condition.
 
D. Reflective material of a minimum area of 16 square inches mounted on each side of the cowling. Identifying numbers may be included in computing the required 16-square-inch-area.
 
E. Adequate sound suppression equipment. No snowmobile manufactured after June 1, 1972, shall be sold or offered for sale, unless it is equipped with sound suppression devices that limit total machine noise in accordance with noise pollution standards established pursuant to the Environmental Protection Act. (415 ILCS 5/1 et seq.)
 
ARTICLE 5. CONTROL PROVISIONS
 
1. General Operation. It is unlawful for any person to drive or operate any snowmobile in the following ways:
 
A. At a rate of speed too fast for conditions and the fact that the speed of the snowmobile does not exceed the applicable maximum speed allowed does not relieve the driver from the duty to decrease speed as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person or vehicle or object, within legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.
 
B. In a careless, reckless, or negligent manner.
 
C. At any time without at least one lighted headlamp and one lighted tail lamp on the snowmobile.
 
D. Within any nature preserve.
 
E. On the tracks or right of way of an operating railroad.
 
F. In any tree nursery or planting in a manner which damages or destroys growing stock, or create a substantial risk thereto.
     
  G. On private property without the written or verbal consent of the owner or lessee.
 
2. Operation on highways. It is unlawful for any person to drive or operate any snowmobile on a highway in this state except as follows:
 
A. On highways other than tollways, interstate highways and fully or limited access-controlled highways snowmobiles may make a direct crossing provided:
       
    1. The crossing is made at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the direction of the highway and at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing; and
       
2. The snowmobile is brought to a complete stop before crossing a roadway; and
       
3. The operator yields the right of way to all oncoming traffic that constitutes a hazard.
 
B. On highways other than tollways, interstate highways and fully or limited access-controlled highways, snowmobiles may be operated not less than 10 feet from the roadway and in the same direction as traffic. On such highways, other than state highways, the corporate authorities of a city, village or incorporated town may adopt ordinances providing for variance from the 10 feet separation requirement of this subsection within city, village or town limits. Corporate authorities of a city, village or incorporated town may adopt ordinances providing for trails and regulating snowmobile operation within city, village or town limits.
 
C. On highways other than tollways, interstate highways and fully or limited access-controlled highways, snowmobiles may be operated on roadways when it is necessary to cross a bridge or culvert or when it is impracticable to gain immediate access to an area adjacent to a highway where a snowmobile is to be operated.
 
D. Corporate authorities of a city, village or incorporated town may by ordinance designate one or more specific public highways or streets within their jurisdiction as egress and ingress routes for the use of snowmobiles. In the event that such public highways or streets are under the jurisdiction of the State of Illinois, expressed written consent of the Illinois Department of Transportation shall be required. Corporate authorities acting under the authority of this paragraph D shall erect and maintain signs giving proper notice thereof. (This section effective April 1, 1982)
 
E. Snowmobiles may be lawfully driven or operated upon those highways where posted by the township road commissioner in townships with a population of less than 5,000 inhabitants. For purposes of this paragraph E, "highways" are defined as township roads pursuant to Section 2-205 of the Illinois Highway Code. (This section effective April 1, 1982)
 
3. Youthful Operators:
     
  A. No person under 10 years of age may operate a snowmobile, other than machines designed for use by small childen primarily as a toy and used only on private property and not on any public use trail.
     
B. Persons at least 10 and less than 12 years of age may operate a snowmobile only if:
       
1. They are either accompanied on the snowmobile by a parent or guardian or a person at least 18 years of age designated by a parent or guardian.
     
C. Persons at least 12 and less than 16 years of age may operate a snowmobile only if:
       
    1. They are accompanied on the snowmobile by a parent or guardian or a person at least 16 years of age designated by a parent or guardian. or
       
    2. such snowmobile operator is in possession of a Snowmobile Safety Certificate issued by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Land Management and Education, authorizing the holder to operate snowmobiles.
     
D. Any person who operates a snowmobile on a highway as provided in Article 5 shall (a) possess a valid motor vehicle driver's license; or (b) possess a safety certificate as provided for in this Section. Any such person less than 16 years of age shall also be under the immediate supervision of a parent or guardian or a person at least 18 years of age designated by the parent or guardian.
     
E. Violations of this Section done with the knowledge of a parent or guardian shall be deemed a violation by the parent or guardian and punishable under Article X of this Act (625 ILCS 40/10-1).
   
4. Operation on Ice
   
Snowmobiles may be operated on the frozen waters of this state subject to the general operation control provisions.
   
5. Other Prohibitions
     
A. No Person, except persons permitted by law, shall operate or ride any snowmobile with any firearm in his possession unless it is unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case, or any bow unless it is unstrung in a carrying case.
     
B. No person shall deposit from a snowmobile on the snow, ice or ground surface, trash, glass, garbage, insoluble material, or other offensive matter.
     
C. No person shall use a snowmobile to take, pursue or intentionally harass or disturb wildlife, except such restrictions shall not apply to a person acting to protect livestock from predatory animals.
   
6. Operating a Snowmobile Under the Influence of Alcohol or Other Drub (OUI)
   
No person shall operate a snowmobile while under the influence of alcohol or any other drug to the degree which renders him/her incapable of safely operating such snowmobile, or who has any amount of a drug, substance, or compound in his/her blood or urine resulting from the unlawful use or consumption of cannabis as defined in the Cannabis Control Act or a controlled substance listed in the Illinois Controlled Substance Act.
 
ARTICLE 6. ACCIDENT REPORTS
 
A. The operator of a snowmobile involved in a collision, accident or other casualty shall render to other persons affected by this collision, accident or other casualty as may be necessary in order to save them from or minimize any danger caused by the collision, accident or other casualty, and also shall give his name, address and identification of his snowmobile to any person injured and to the owner of the property damaged in the collision, accident or other casualty.
 
B. In the case of collision, accident or other casualty involving the operation of a snowmobile, the operator thereof, if the collision, accident or other casualty results in death or injury to a person or damage to property in excess of $750, shall file with the Department a full description of the collision, accident or other casualty, including such information as the Department may, by regulation, require. Reports of such accidents must be filed with the Department on a Department Accident Report form within five days.
 
C. Reports of accidents resulting in personal injury, wherein a person is incapacitated for a period exceeding 72 hours, must be filed with the Department on a Department Accident Report form within five days. Accidents, which result in loss of life, shall be reported to the Department on a Department form within 48 hours.