NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5496
SPONSOR: Barclay (MS) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to registration
fees for snowmobiles to be used on frozen bodies of water for sport
fishing or for access to hunting or trapping lands solely
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To exempt snowmobiles that are used only for sport fishing or for access
to hunting and or trapping lands from the portion of the snowmobile
registration fee that is deposited into the Snowmobile Trail Development
and Maintenance Fund.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Exempts snowmobiles that are used only for sport fishing or
for access to hunting and or trapping lands from the portion of the
snowmobile registration fee which is deposited into the Snowmobile Trail
Development and Maintenance Fund.
Section 2: Requires that the registration stickers for these snowmobiles
to be a different color than other snowmobile registration stickers.
Section 3: Creates a fine of $200 for any individual who has registered
their snowmobile for sport fishing or access to hunting and/or trapping
lands that operates their snowmobile for any other purpose.
JUSTIFICATION:
Under current New York State Law the snowmobile registration fee is
split between the General Fund and the dedicated Snowmobile Trail Devel-
opment and Maintenance Fund. The purpose of this dedicated fund is to
provide financial assistance for the development and maintenance of
snowmobile trails throughout New York.
In 2005, The Snowmobile Rights and Responsibilities Act created a two
tier registration system for snowmobile users that requires individuals
who are not members of the New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA)
to pay a significantly higher fee to be directed to the Snowmobile Fund.
The reason for the two tiered system was to provide a financial incen-
tive for snowmobilers to join the local chapter of the NYSSA. The desire
to increase NYSSA membership was because snowmobile trails are main-
tained by local clubs and their members. The trail grooming and mainte-
nance is a very demanding job and clubs could always use more assist-
ance. The increased assistance is much needed to further promote trail
development and maintenance in our New York.
However, many individuals feel that the new two tier system is unfair
because it penalizes individuals who are not members of the NYSSA by
forcing them to pay a much higher rate than in the past. Outdoor enthu-
siasts who use their snowmobiles solely for sport fishing or access to
hunting and or trapping lands are only using their snowmobiles as a mode
of access to their sports, not for recreational riding and therefore
should not be subject to the portion of the registration fee that is
dedicated to snowmobile trail development and maintenance.
One concern with creating different registration classes is that people
may misrepresent how they plan to use their snowmobile in order to pay a
lower fee. Therefore, this legislation requires that the snowmobiles
used for sport fishing or access to hunting lands have a different color
registration sticker. This system would allow enforcement officers to
more quickly identify individuals who are misusing their snowmobile in
an efficient manner. In addition, this legislation creates a fine of
$200 for individuals who are caught using their snowmobile for any other
purpose than the one that they received their registration for.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2017-18 A3821 Held for consideration in Transportation
2019-20 A5024 Held for consideration in Transportation
2021-22 A6405 Held for consideration in Transportation
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The nineteenth day after it shall have become law, provided that the
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles is immediately authorized and directed to
promulgate and/or repeal any rules and regulations necessary to imple-
ment the provisions of this act on its effective date.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5496
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 13, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BARCLAY, BLANKENBUSH, DiPIETRO, PALMESANO, MANK-
TELOW, BYRNES, MORINELLO, J. M. GIGLIO, GALLAHAN, LEMONDES, BRABENEC
-- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. HAWLEY -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to registration
fees for snowmobiles to be used on frozen bodies of water for sport
fishing or for access to hunting or trapping lands solely
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 2222 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision 15 to read as follows:
3 15. (a) Fees for snowmobiles to be used solely for sport fishing on a
4 frozen body of water or solely for access to hunting or trapping lands.
5 Notwithstanding any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary, fees
6 for registration of a snowmobile which is to be used solely for sport
7 fishing on a frozen body of water or solely for access to hunting or
8 trapping lands shall not include the additional fees set out in subdivi-
9 sion four-a of this section, and section 21.07 of the parks, recreation
10 and historic preservation law.
11 (b) The registration sticker for snowmobiles which are to be used
12 solely for sport fishing on a frozen body of water or solely for access
13 to hunting or trapping lands shall be of a different color than other
14 registration stickers for snowmobiles.
15 (c) A person who owns or operates a snowmobile which is registered to
16 be used solely for sport fishing on a frozen body of water or solely for
17 access to hunting or trapping lands who operates the snowmobile for
18 other purposes shall be guilty of a violation and shall be subject to a
19 fine of two hundred dollars.
20 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
21 have become a law. Effective immediately the commissioner of motor vehi-
22 cles is authorized to promulgate and/or repeal any rule or regulation
23 necessary to implement the provisions of this act on or before such
24 effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03849-01-3
