Sec. 24_138. Operation by certain minors.
(a) A parent or legal guardian shall not permit their child who is under the age of twelve (12) to operate a snowmobile without the direct supervision of an adult except on land owned or under the control of the parent or legal guardian.
(b) A person who is at least twelve (12) but less than sixteen (16) years of age may operate a snowmobile if:
(1) Such person is under the direct supervision of a person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older; or
(2) Such person has in such person's immediate possession a snowmobile safety certificate issued pursuant to state law; or
(3) Such person is on land owned or under the control of their parent or legal guardian. A person who is operating a snowmobile pursuant to subsection (2) shall present the snowmobile safety certificate to any peace officer upon demand.
(c) Notwithstanding other provisions of this article, an operator who is under twelve (12) years of age shall not operate upon or cross a highway or street. An operator who is at least twelve (12) years of age but less than sixteen (16) years of age may cross a highway or street only if such operator has a valid snowmobile safety certificate in such operator's immediate possession.
(d) All operators of snowmobiles on public right of ways, streets, or alleys that have been authorized by resolution of the City Commission as open for snowmobile use shall be over the age of 16 years, or if they are less than 16 years of age and at least 12 years of age they must be under the direct supervision of a person over the age of 18 years.
(e) All operators of snowmobiles on public right of ways, streets, or alleys that have been authorized by resolution of the City Commission as open for snowmobile use who are under the age of 18 years shall carry and possess a valid State of Michigan or other State issued safety training certificate at all times. Upon the request of any law enforcement personnel the operator shall display for examination the certificate.

Sec. 24_154. Operation on public rights_of_way.
(a) Unless specifically authorized by resolution of the city commission, no person shall operate a snowmobile on any street, alley, or right_of_way.
(b) When a street, alley, or right_of_way has been authorized for snowmobile use by resolution of the City Commission snowmobile operation on such authorized public right of ways shall comply with the following:

1. Operation is restricted to only the far right hand portion of the authorized public right of way that has been plowed.
2. Operation is prohibited on any unplowed portion of the authorized public right of way including but not limited to any snow banks, sidewalks, or bicycle paths.
3. The operator shall cause the snowmobile come to a complete stop at each and every intersection with such authorized public right of way even if the intersection is not posted for a required stop.
4. The operator shall hand signal all turns and stops.
5. The operator shall not pass any vehicle which is ahead and moving in the same direction as the snowmobile upon the right of way.
6. The operator shall not tow any passengers with the snowmobile unless the passengers are contained in a commercially manufactured trailer designed for the conveyance of passengers and such trailer is affixed to the snowmobile by a ball or pin hitch attached to a rigid tow bar.

Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect ten days after its adoption and publication.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing ordinance was
adopted by the City Commission of the City of Sault Ste. Marie,
Michigan on the 2nd day of September, 2008.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE OPERATION OF SNOWMOBILES
ON CITY STREETS, ALLEYS, OR RIGHT-OF-WAYS

WHEREAS, on September 2, 2008 the City Commission adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 24, Article VI, Sections 24-117 through Sections 24-156 that prescribes certain requirements for snowmobiles that operate on City streets that are approved by resolution of the City Commission for snowmobile use, and

WHEREAS, it is the intent of the City Commission to open all streets, alleys, and right-of-ways to snowmobile use in accordance with the operation regulations that were approved by the Commission on September 2, 2008, except those streets that have been traditionally closed for snowmobile use as part of the annual I-500 celebration.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Commission designates all streets, alleys, and right-of-ways as open to snowmobile operations in accordance with the regulations outlined in Chapter 24, Article VI of the City of Sault Ste. Marie Code with the following exceptions:

o Highway I-75 from 3 Mile Road to the International Bridge
o M-129 from 3 Mile Road to the I-75 Business Spur
o I-75 Business Spur beginning at 3 Mile Rd & Extending North to Portage Ave
o Portage Avenue from Ashmun Street to the Sugar Island Ferry Dock
o Easterday Avenue Hill from Davitt Street to Pine Street
o Peck Street from Ashmun Street to Gov. Osborn Blvd.
o Gov. Osborn Blvd. from Peck Street to Spruce Street
o Spruce Street from Court Street west to Pine Street
o Nolte from Memorial Drive to Pine Street
o Memorial Drive between Nolte and Peck Street
o W. Portage Avenue from Ashmun Street to Gov. Osborn Blvd.

I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and complete copy of a resolution adopted by the City Commission of the City of Sault Ste. Marie, County of Chippewa, State of Michigan, at a regular meeting held on September 15, 2008 on and that said meeting was conducted and public notice of said meeting was given pursuant to and in full compliance with the Open Meetings Act, and that the minutes of said meeting were kept and will be or have been made available as required by said Act.

The Sault Ste Marie Snowmobile Association has a web site with trail maps and information. (www.sootrails.org)
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Local Snowmobile Information


GUN SAFETY LOCKS
The Police Department is participating in a state sponsored "Gun Safety Lock" program and is offering the program to Sault Ste Marie, MI residents at no charge. Any resident who owns a pistol, rifle, or shotgun should stop into the department and pick up a gun lock to secure their firearm from being accidentally discharged or from an unauthorized use. The police department is encouraging all residents who keep such firearms in their homes, particularly those who have younger children in the household, to take advantage of this program.
These gun safety locks will be distributed at no cost to any resident requesting them.

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