Alright this is crap. In the woods during the day I could understand but at night the headlight is a friend. You actually have better knowlege of people oncoming and the usual slow tours are in for the night. I'm not saying you should keep er pinned all night just ride to your ability and have fun thats why I snowmobile. They really do want to kill the sport, don't they...

I'm just going to wait for them to try to nail me and see if the DNR can catch me. I'm not the best rider out there but I can old my own, and I would love to see them try to catch me. What are they going to do ram me off he trail, don't think so. Plus, there aren't enough of them on the trail to radio ahead and cut me off. Another thing is the DNR have older slower sleds so far that I've seen. I don't know. I'm not happy with this 55 crap. Just get the bar flys off the trail and let us have some fun with our few days off of work and away from the wife. jeeezzz.

Well, I'm glad to see someone else is as bent about this BS speed limit as I am,

So, are you going to vote this election? that is your only way to get this bogus limit to go away.

The DNR continues to list alcohol related deaths as speed being the first & foremest factor.

As for outrunning? it aint gonna hapen, do as I do and install a radar detecor on your sled, and study traffic defense scenarios.

A radar unit used on a sled will be less than accurate, and since sleds do not have a speedo that can be calibrated correctly, it will be a tough fight for the prosecution. But with our northern judges, you are very unlikely to be found "not Guilty".

I wish it was laser that they would be using, because it would be impossible to taget a sled correclty, and the advent of sophisticated laser jamming systems is blooming nicely. about the only place a laser unit could target a sled is the headlight, and the use of "Veil" ( a laser countermeasure) would be sufficient.

Jamming radar is out of the question, ( federal offense) and do not waste your money on alleged radar absorbing materials.

this will just be another fun game of cat & mouse for me!!!

What I saw them do last year is they have 4-6 sleds on the trail in a certain area, they send one down the trail a given distance were there is no place to turn around, then they radio ahead some infraction, then block the trail so you can't go forward and can't backup as the chase sleds are coming up from behind.

Even on a sled, it's a FELONY to run from them. Trust me, you do NOT want to be a convicted felon because you didnt want to take a speeding ticket. That's assuming you wouldnt kill yourslf running from them.

This speed limit pisses me off too, but dont make a piss poor judgement decision over a petty fine. It wont even go on your driving record. Why would you risk becoming a felon just so you can try to get out of a speeding ticket? That's insane.

At night any faster than 55 mph and you are overdriving your headlights.
I laugh at the "they'll never catch me" attitude. Ive got a few friends with quads who used to roadride and used to think the same thing. (untill they got caught)
As revfirefighter said, its a felony to run frop the cops, but heres a bigger thing to consider: what about the people you might hurt or kill while fleeing from the cops?

Who ever told you it's a felony is mistaken, it's not.

^I agree. Im as aggressive as anyone else out there, but I get really tired of people riding the trails like they are their own person snocross track.

Tell that to my buddy who is looking at 3 years in the slammer for running on his wheeler.
Tell it to my neighbor who served 2 years and has no firearm rights when he ran on his crotch rocket.

They don't even put half the people in jail for armed robbery. Your friends were doing something else wrong at the same time. I ran the cops in my car which I crashed into a telephone pole, breaking it in half, speeds in excess of 120 MPH, I got fined and a reckless driving charge, which was dropped in court. Wasn't even a mis domeaner.

Lee,

Maybe you need to go back and re-read my post before posting your nonsensical ramblings that bear a heavy resemblance of most other narrow-minded law enforcement officers.

How will a DNR warden/law enforcement officer determine that no outside interference is causing the speed reading generated without running a sled through their radar-trap set-up.

The point I am trying to make is that they will not be able to use a sled as a test to verify the radar reading is accurate, since snowmobile speedos are considerably less than accurate. Do we at least agree on this? that snowmobile speedos are less than accurate?

it is comon practice for many police departments in this area to verify their radar accuracy by running a vehicle with a calibrated speedo, into the radar set-up area to verify that the speeds shown by the radar are reasonably close to the speeds shown by the certified speedo in that patrol car. This usually makes a more solid case when it comes up in court.

if you took my statement as using the inaccurate nature of a snowmobile speedo as a defense, you have obviously been absorbing too many microwave emissions in either the K, or KA-band and maybe an MRI scan might be in order to rule out possible damage to your logical thought process.

So, you wanna wear your ass for a hat? LOL

Irony; Lee getting a speeding ticket while riding at night in Wisconsin this season!! I would laugh about that til the day I overdrive my headlights and wrap myself around a tree while riding sober and above 55 mph!!

the reason I am so against this new speed limit is;
We will see absolutely no difference in the death rate, it is a revenue generating law, and that is it! ( selective taxation)
So when the death rate stays the same or increases (like it increased by double the last time they did this useless speed limit) it will give them all the fuel they need to enact a 24 hour speed limit like over there in that communist state you live in!!

Alcohol was the biggest cause of all the needless deaths. Of all the deaths that occured at night, I think only 3 of them could be considered speed related (with a BAC under the legal limit of .08) Here is the latest update from the Wi DNR on snowmobile fatalities last season, here is the link, go count!!(http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/es/enforcement/safety/snowstats.htm)

Count all of them that occured during darkness, subtract all the ones with alcohol listed as a factor, and a confirmed BAC over .08, and then remove the drownings, and see how many it really was that can truly be attributed to a speed over 55 MPH. Less than 5 is my guess, I will go look right now!! So all this becuase of 5 lives? More people burst auryisms while taking a crap in this state then the amount of sledders that die from allegedly travelling over 55 mph at night while sober!!!!!


I just counted the detahs and the reaSons; NOT ONE FRIGGIN DEATH CAUSED BY SPEED AT NIGHT WITHOUT ALCOHOL BEING THE MAJOR FACTOR!!
So, this law is going to help how? the are barking up the wrong tree! I compare this to yelling at your dog, becuase your cat ate your pet bird!!

Absolutley useless law to lower the death rate of snowmobilers!! They need to repeal the law in place that protects drunken snowmobilers from random checkpoints!!
This state prohibits alcohol checkpoints! can you believe that? probable cause is not even good enough for a stop according to our current laws, the drunk rider needs to break a differing law first before he/she can be stopped & given a sobriety test and cited!! That needs to be changed!!!

#1 I didn't think running was a felony
2 I have gotten away in my car street racing (not saying I was right in doin it, just saying it's been done.)
3 I'd love to take my sled to a track you tell me where one is at I'll be there.
4 60 + is over driving your headlights... but your doing it on the lake so how is that any better?
5 I try to be as safe as I can on the trails lifes to short as it is. Just dont see why the man has to find out a way to ruin all our harmless fun.

my 2c

Its happening everywhere, in New Hampshire the speed limit is 45mph on trails, and although people bitch about it, it has slowed the motorheads down. I recomend what others have said, "Take it out on a track, or out on a lake", and stop scaring the shit out of innocent families out there trying to dodge the Blair wannabees on trail systems. Its time we all came to the reality that groomed trails are not for the exclusive use of "sky pilots" moving at warp speed!

pathfinder58 :cn:

after reading this topic.. SPANKY i dont know what your problem would be.....as it shows u ride a 1999 xc 600 you'd be lucky if that stone even hits 55mph on a lake muchless in the woods.........lol .. :smilielol:

I thought ANY eluding from a POlice Officer, whether by sled, car, foot, ANYTHING was considered a class 3 felony.

Even if it isnt, you're looking at possible jail time. STILL not worth it IMO.

Im trying to give a 22 year old kid reasons NOT to run from the cops. I dont need a debate over it thank you.

no extra money was put into the budget for extra radar equipment you are NOT going to see a bunch of cops trying to bust you :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

There is plenty of radar equipment in place from the last time they set the limit at 55 mph back in 1999-2000 season. and the old BS "Visual Estimate" will be heavily used I'm sure.



A sidewalk attorney, Lee? you are too funny.
You have derived this assumption by my postings of how this speed limit will do absolutely nothing to decrease the deaths of drunken snowmobilers.

I am guessing that Lee is the typical law enforcement officer that tramples peoples civil rights at every chance he gets. And then probbaly goes home after his shift and sits on the crapper & whacks-off thinking about it! And then uses a copy of our "Bill of rights" to clean up afterwards!!

I am not the type of person that is just a "Yes-Man" to useless legislation, especially when the lawmakers have no first-hand knowledge of the problems involved in this sport. I would be willing to bet that out of everyone who voted for this new law have been hit by lightning / or climbed Mt. Everest more times than they have ever ridden a snowmobile!!!

For highway driven vehicles, They (the state) have reduced the legal BAC to .08 with the severe punishments levied when convicted of this offense. But at the same time our State has enacted a law to make snowmobilers immune to a stop strictly for checking sobriety. And when EVERY death at nighttime is directly caused by alcohol, they decide to enact a speed limit at night, but still have the immunity clause in place so snowmobilers cannot be stopped & checked for sobriety. So, Lee please explain to us how this will decrease the number of deaths? They true killer here is stupidity, and a direct quote from the best governor your state has ever seen (Ventura) "You cannot legislate stupidity"

This law will do nothing to decrease the deaths at night, all it will do is remove money from many snowmobilers pockets and people in the hospitality industry which my town relies on heavily for it's life blood!!and then this coming spring, they will try and get a 24 hour speed limit in place!! Save this posting for the big "I told you so" I will be posting about this time next year!!
Isn't that the exact scenario that unfolded in Minnesota to get the 50 MPH limit at any time?

We need to nip this coming legislation before it even starts if we want to continue to our sport without all the upcoming harrassment. Once they realize how much revenue they can generate by enforcing speed limits, they will be increasing the enforcement heavily,

I challenge anyone to show me one death last season, that happened during the hours of darkness that was caused by speed over 55 mph, without the rider being sober! I can't find one! lets see if you can!!

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/es/enforcem...y/snowstats.htm

Ok after hearing everyone I'm going to ride just like I always have. If they get me I'll pay the ticket and go on with my ride just like I did before I get ticketed. I just don't see why the law is needed. MOST people ride to there ability safely and have a good time. The blair wanna be's and drunk lake dragsters should stay in there AA meeting. While I'll just enjoy the snow and time away. nough said.




flyn 440 - If thats what u think get ur green bean and line it up then. :wut60:

Another stupid law that will do little if anything but fill Madisons bank account. Did anyone think about education? hell no

Just ride like yu stole it and don't worry about or band together and get the law repealed!
remember the abate issue?
enough said

Nope just running from the cops and speeding.

THAT IS FUNNY.....

Good, now we know where each other stands on this issue. I actually would like to meet up with you and do some riding sometime. let me know if you ever get near the Minocqua/Woodruff/Arbor Vitae, area.

I do agree that this is strictly a "P-C" situation. But I also think it is complete Bull-schmitt that the tavern league was able to sway the law-makers into keeping sledders immune to sobriety check-points. and not even being able to stop a sledder with plenty of "P-C"! the sledder must first break another unrelated law before a "legal" stop can be made. ( can you imagine how that would be on the roadways? WOW!!)
The way our current law reads; "a snowmobile operator cannot be stopped for suspected drunken riding unless this person disobeys another law that warrants Law enforcement contact, or a citation! A sledder can stumble out of a bar, with his helmet on backwards, falling all over himself, and law enforcement cannot make contact with this person until he actually breaks a different law such as running a stop sign!!

I would rather have drunken sledders removed from our trail system by spot-checks, than be harrassed and fined for exceeding 55 MPH while crossing the several hundred lakes in our area that are part of our trail system.The largest enforcement area (the last time they tried this), was a wide open trail that ran next to power lines, never a fatal accident anywhere near this area, But a busy tail with seperated lanes of travel.
It did nothing to decrease our death rate, the deaths that year actually set our all-time record, (with the speed limit already in place) My point is that they are barkng up the wrong tree, Alcohol is the problem. let me rephrase that, people stupid enough to consume alcohol, and ride a sled are the problem. Set-up check-points, and save lives!! it sure beats a useless night time speed limit, that is sure to evolve into a 24 hour limit when they see no difference in deaths.
I have ridden in other states with mandatory check-points for compliance and sobriety, and it was not that bad at all. It would save the lives of several people if that would happen here. And speaking on behalf of most people on this forum, (from last seasons opinions of most involved) we feel that sobriety check-points would be less invasive to us than being cited for exceeding this 55 mph speed limit.

I am not some Blair Morgan-Wannabe, Christ-sakes, look at my screen-name!!! (Getting too old for this playing out in the snow, crap)But since I cannot afford to fly anymore due to the price of Av-Gas, sledding is my last outlet for the daily stresses.

Something worth noting that I read in a recent issue of Snow Goer about this issue.
They quoted Gary Eddy, snowmobile adminstrator for the Wisconsin DNR, who said, "69% of out fatal accidents occured at night and 67% were speed related".
If we could reduce the number of snowmobile deaths by 67%, that would be huge.
Like you, Im kinda skeptical. I too think that trailside sobriety tests would be a better idea, but Id like to give the speed limit a chance before I write it off as a failure.
I dont care how good of a rider you are, any faster than 55 mph at night is overdriving your headlights.

I dont know about you guy who say dont run from the cops. Watch me. Put any cop or even 6 cops behind me, i will smoke them in no time. and for the people coming the other way, dont worry. I know i can do quite a hefty speed and stay on my side of the trail. 55 MPH are you kidding? Who wants to do that? I know I dont. Get some beers in me and watch what I can do. Im up for any challange that the DNR F#@*#T$ want to give me. So I dont care if its a felony or anything or about the ticket. I got the money for a ticket. Its just embarrassing for getting pulled over for only doing 55.

You know, Im from Oregon originally, and am not the least bit surprised a McFarland resident is this stupid when it comes to acting reasonable.

Yeah, smart choice there. Drink beers (which is illegal at your age), ride drunk (also illegal), and risk everyone else's life on the trail (which is just plain retarded), all so you dont have to pay a small fine. You really are fucking stupid, and a disgrace to snowmobilers. You are EXACTLY the type of person that gives all of us sledders a bad reputation. A total dumbass. Running from the cops, drinking and riding, riding the trails like they're your personal snowcross track. You are EXACTLY the type of person non-sledders think we all are like. Most of us here on this site hope to CHANGE our reputations for the better. Not you though. You like being considered dangerous and reckless by the non-sledding population.

Besides, your sled is nowhere near as fast as the radios they use to talk to each other. All they have to do is call someone down the trail to block it, and you're fucked. You will NEVER outrun a radio son, NEVER. Sure, you'll outrun the wardens you blew by, but you are FAR from getting away with speeding when you do that.

Of course, you're 18, so you think you know it all.

Have fun in jail dumbshit.

:div20: :fluffy: :banana: I think the kid was just kidding (at least I hope so), but you are right. Anyone who thinks they can outrun the cops is an idiot.
All they need to do is radio ahead and have the local sheriff's deparment block the trail where it crosses a road.
Seriously kid, dont run from the cops. An acquaintenace of mine recently tried to run from the cops on his ATV, got caught and is looking at some SERIOUS jail time and some huge tickets (and he hasnt even gone to court for all the things they charged him with yet). I wont go into detail about it, but just believe me when I say, its not worth it.

You're probably right, been a little on edge the past couple days. Probably firing off on a guy who was just screwing around trying to get me worked up.

he omitted a few key facts, especially the one where 100% of those deaths the rider was under the influence of alcohol (the night time deaths).

We gave the speed limit a chance during our 1999-2000 season (record death rate of 39 souls lost that season Our highest ever!!!) this speed limit was placed by emergency order before the season started.

it did not work then, what would make you think it can work this time around?

And as for your opinion that exceeding 55 mph is over-driving your headlights, Do you drive on the interstate at night? do you keep your speed below 55 mph? I just do not like the thought of getting ticketed for exceeding this bullshit speed limit by maybe 10-15 over across a lake.

I am still alive after almost 35 years of snowmobiling, I have had one sled-totalling wreck while doing about 35 mph. (those damn railroad rails sure are nailed down tight!!) The county trail was mismarked by vandals, and it lead the sledders into active railroad tracks at a switch location, I was slowing because something didn't look quite right. And Bammo!!! I stopped sliding across raised railroad ties 20 yards from the sled with some of the hood splinters stuck into my leg!!(I was #8 for the evening at that exact location)

many people go back to the argument of "you cant do over 55 mph in the woods" I will bet that the heavy woods will not be an enforcement area due to the surroundings. Why try to enforce an area where it is nearly impossible to travel above the max speed limit?
they will be out on the lakes, 2-lane trails, roads that are closed for the winter that are safely traveled in excess of 55 at night. and every other place where there is no prior history of fatal wrecks.
So, next spring when the death rate is either the same average, or higher, what is going to be their next brilliant idea? A 24 hour speed limit!! What is their argument going to be to support that decision when that happens? lets take a guess.

I posted the link to the fatality listing on the WIDNR site, I challenge you to find a single night-time death that is directly related to speeds above 55 mph, without alcohol being a major factor.

We had 2 people drown in Mani-Waters, another kid with a stuck throttle he was trying to fix that hit a skid-steer after bouncing off a telephone pole. Some more drownings (drunk too)
Look at all the daytime deaths from alcohol, how is this night time speed limit going to prevent those? (another reason for the 24 hour limit that is already in it's planning stages)

The lowest BAC i have found in the night deaths is .085 (convictable) and the next lowest is .147!!!!
How in their sick twisted minds do they figure speed as a major factor when alcohol use is so prevailent???
I'll tell you how!!! Money thrown at the lawmakers by the Tavern League!!! Alcohol is the problem clear as day!!! but they will not do anything to help remove drunken sledders from the trail without being able to raise revenues from people that exceed 55 MPH. Lee is right, (did I just admit that? wow!) The speeding stop is just a "probable Cause" issue to detain & cite the drunks while staying within the rules set forth by the tavern leagues "pocket politicians" !!!.

I would have no problem being stopped for exceeding 55, too check for alcohol use, the problem I have is being cited for exceeding that speed safely and not under the unfluence of drugs or alcohol!!if it was just a complince stop, it would not bother me, But this ticket thing chaps my ass!!!!

So the way this is going to work, if a drunk stays under the speed limit, and adheres to the other reg's, he cant be stopped according to our current laws. So he can go on his merry drunken way, whack a tree at 35 Mph, die, Or hit one of us and kill us, raise the death rate, And they'll call it "Speed related" again!!!

Set up mandatory compliance check points!!! remove the drunks from our trails, and raise the safety level of our sport!!! Who is going to complain about that tactic? Just the people that get drunk & ride, right? Well, they are the exact cause for this new law, and they are a danger to the rest of us!!

I agree that something needs to be done out there, I would rather see checkpoints for compliance than ticketable speed limits.
Check points would raise money for our sport in several ways, It would make the people that do not normally buy a trail pass get one. The sleds would be on the trail more, (burning more fuel and oil) for more tax revenues, instead of sitting in front of a bar! and it would make me feel safer that I am not going to get whacked by a drunk. or have one pull in front of me from a side trail.


And a note to the 18 yr old idiot!!

Sell your sled right now! get out of this sport, you are exactly the type of person that makes us all look bad!!!
If someone ask's, do not even admit that you know what a snowmobile is!!! :frech32:

I sure hope your post was not your true self, if it was, we should all be scared and seriously get ready for the end of our chosen winter sport as we know it!!

Ya your all right I was stupid sorry. :beerchug:

To be honest with you i dont know what i would do if a cop tried pulling me over. depends on the circumstances, but who cares about that. I just want to let you know LEE. I will kick your ass in any race at any time. So ya anyway this law is really stupid, so i am just going to keep riding like I have. I know this is a touchy subject for a lot of people, so i just wanted to get you all excited about the topic, I think it is funny to hear you all discuss it. I say just ignore it and when the time comes, then everyone can figure out what they will do. SORRY GUYS.

Outrun a .223 round? Oh at about the high 3,000 fps range, doubtful. But would you actually try to pick-off a kid on a sled with difficult shot like that? :smilielol: I personally prefer the 22-250's,( my caliber of choice for deer, with a Barnes XLC copper sitting on the end) a bit more velocity, and I have found it to be a more accurate, and forgiving round altogether.


JZuleger21
I do ride down to the tomahawk area for Fried clam strips at RR gators once in a while, so I hope I am not the oncoming sled when you are trying to outrun a radio.
If you are stopped, first off make sure you are legal all the way around. just stop, keep your mouth shut, don't make any Bull-shit excuses ( they heard them all) do not argue, Do not admit to speeding, Do not answer any possible incriminating questions. (it will be used against you in court) take the ticket, tell them to have a good night, ride away and give'em the old "one finger salute" about 50 yards down the trail!! :bigfinger: LOL

And prepare your defense for court, you will never win an argument with the DNR out on the trail, in the woods, or on a lake. Wait till you are off their turf to argue your point. they are going to screw up on something, what til they do, and make your move.

Jzuleger21, I've been there done that, when I was your age. It aint worth it, you WILL loose.

I started this post and I agree with every thing you said.. I know at first I said I'd try to run and All that but after I cooled down this is the post I shold have wrote thanks for taking the words out of my mouth.. good post!

Big difference, G20. For one, you have a lot more grip in your car or truck on pavement than you do on your sled on snow, not to mention the fact that cars have much better headlights.
Also, I dont know what trails you ride on, but unless you ride strictly on the Bearskin, you are riding over your head. There is no way you can safely do 55 mph at night on the tight and twisty trails of the northwoods.
I do care if you do ride a modern sled like the Fusion, if you think you can safely ride at those speeds at night, you are kidding yourself.
Thats the exact reason why I dont ride at night. Theres too many drunks and racer wannabes.

I believe that some of the night riding here (on nights) is a lot safer than the day riding, I can atleast see people coming from the other direction.

True, but its more difficult to see upcoming corners and other hazards.

You do have a point, but I know every inch of trails that I ride, i don't really get too far from home often, but when i do its a 200 mile day, its usually just to spots to play at or ice drags or school. Anyway I can go much faster than a person (on the trails in my area) who hasn't ridden by me at night or day! its called riding at your ability level, and trust me I can keep up with the quickest of them( not on the lake though) :banghead:

Famous last words, Fly_High_F5, famous last words...
There is no way you can know every last inch of the trail because the trail conditions can dramatically change from day to day.
A trail can go from being as smooth as glass in the morning to being a rutted-up mogulfest in the evening. Where it was once smooth can quickly develop deep holes and if you come flying though at 55 mph you arent gonna have time to react and bad things can happen.
Also, you are only 16, so that means you have only been trail riding about 4 years. Im sure you are a good rider, but it takes longer than that to develop the skills and instinct that it takes to handle a sled at those speeds at night.

Dont always count on that Fly. I have seen some circumstances personally where I SWORE I would be able to tell if someone is coming at me or not, and then all of a sudden, BAM, someone is RIGHT there with you.

I have to admit, I used to take corners a little wider at night than day if I didnt see headlights. A couple close calls has taught me to re-consider that.

You CAN mistake someone else's headlights for your own reflecting off the trees or trails if they aren't pointed in a certain matter.

Im NOT saying it's easier to see in the daytime, just that it isn't ALWAYS obvious when someone is coming at you at night.




Exactly. Most icy corners were beautiful .covered corners at some point or another. What was the best trails you have ever seen in the morning can be the most ice-covered and snirt-filled trails just a few hours later. In Eagle River, they call that FRIDAYS.

Like I said, I ride mostly the same trails day after day, I know what they start like and what they end like. Yes I have been only riding trails 5 years, but I also put on proabably close to 10,000 miles on in those five years:frech32: I never said I can go 55 at night (maybe not even day on certain trail conditions). Don't take my word on how fast I go, I like to pay attention to the trail and not look down at my speedo/tach. I'm just sayin I can go faster on a trail i know over a trail i have never ridden, and before you go bashing my experience we should go riding and then you can bash away.

Preach on, Rev. Preach on! :div20: Im all for opening it up, but only on the lakes. I dont care how good your sled is or how good of a rider you are, there is no way you can safely ride at those speeds at night.

ok lee lets go for it any time anywhere. i have so much money invested into 700 i will kill you on it. and i have a sno-x sled that i will walk you with also. so let me know wher you want to meet.

Ok, the bearskin is a trail I use often to get to my more preferred riding spots, along with the minocqua'Lk. Tomahawk system. the trail along hwy 47, and countless other wide, straight for miles trails! So you admit that the bearskin is easily ridden at night in excess of 55 mph? I agree. So now that you just contridicted your previous statement, where do we go now? at what point did I ever state that I can exceed 55 mph safely on tight trails? find it & quote it for me please! The bearskin will be heavily enforced, especially near Timber ridge, and Blue lake road. and more down in Harshaw! Just think off al the extra money those towns can generate now from issuing speeding tickets to sledders. and how many people died on the bearskin in the last 5 years? 2 people!! thats all. a 13 yr old girl last season that was looking behind her and was off the trail for 165 feet before impacting a tree. and a 67 year old that drown becuase heis sled was on top of him after rolling down the embankment, oh, BTW, the old guy that drown had a BAC of over .20 very well lit I would say.

They will not be trying to enforce this limit out in the middle of the Northern Highland forest on the tight twisties, they are going to be sitting on the huge thoroughfares where it is real easy to exceed 55 at night safely.

And comparing sleds to cars, I would be willing to bet the stopping distance on a sled is much shorter than a car at the same speeds. it is a simple enough eqaution to figure it out. hmmm, something that weighs less than 750 pounds including the pilot, as compared to a car weighing near 2-tons.
As for lighting, the wattage of lights in sleds is the exact same DOT approved wattage alowed in cars.


You keep on stating your beliefs about this speed limit, show me some proof from our states fatality listings over the past 5 years. I'll post the link againif you need it.

NOT ONE SINGLE DEATH AT NIGHT IS FROM TRAVELLING OVER 55 MPH!! THEY ARE FROM DRINKING ALCOHOL TO EXCESS!!!

Find me some deaths directly related to speeds over 55 without alcohol use, then Maybe you can get me to understand why this speed limit at night is seen as a good thing for snowobilers.

I have done nothing but state facts listed in the DNR's website, Lets see your counterpoint!! WITH FACTS!!

I'm with you G2O, they got all over me going for fast, but I never said I did over or close to 55mph at night. Except the lakes, and the ocasional straight away. I'm all for having checkpoints for doing sobriety tests, I don't care if they stop me, whats five minutes to show them I'm sober. As long as it gets the drunks off the trails. But if this law obides to the lakes too, they might as well give everbody that goes across the lakes a ticket then. There is one exception( I believe). The Doc Fry trail, which is 15 miles from my house does not need to be policed, it is as wide as a paved highway, smooth, and somewhat straight. There will be people going through there at 55 mph+, I guarentee that is where the cops will be sitting, or on the the long straight aways such as fields.

You are trying to tell me that excessive speed wasnt a factor, G20? Come on!




If you dont do 55 mph at night, what are you so upset about?

accustitons, maybe?

We are all very opinionated....that is for sure!!!

Lets just remember this......we all love speed, if we didn't we wouldn't be in this sport. We also love life.....if we didn't we wouldn't be enjoying it so much......let's just try to remember "the other guy, or girl, or family" coming the other way.....who also loves life!

I agree and disagree with many issues brought up about this post.....but the truth of the matter is that it is the law, it is here to stay this year anyway......will every person who breaks the speed limit at night get a ticket?.....Does every car that exceeds 55 mph on the highway get a ticket???

Let all just think snow try to respect others opinions, The "I can ride better than you" 17 year olds will all eventually learn.... we were all there too once........unfortunatly some may learn the hard way, hopefully they will not take out the innocent family.

God Bless......and think snow.

Amen to that. Ive had close calls with waaay too many racer wannabes who cant stay on their side of the trail and I personally think a 55 mph speed limit 24 hours a day would be a good idea. Thats plenty fast enough, IMO.

Then you should go right on over to minnesota, cuz that is exactly what happened to them, And every Minnesota rider I have met up with over here, rides here mainly because of the laws of their own state!!

And where do come up with the idea that i do not do 55 at night? WOW, is your comprehension that low?

I obviously need to type slower for you to understand, if that is what you got that from my previous postings.

Go over to the DNR fatality website (the link is a few post's back) find me one single death last year during the hours of darkness where the only factor was speed in excess of 55 mph!! And when you do think you found one, look again at the alcohol concentration listed! If alcohol is listed as a factor, all other factors are a moot point!!

Alcohol slows reaction times, it is the first symptom of drinking, it also impairs judgement.

Riding within your abilities is a safe way to ride, if a person has been drinking their abilities have been lowered, their reaction times have been increased dramatically. and their judgement is very poor at best.

here is a prime example; new years day 10:30 AM,Oneida county (1 Mile from my house) a guy hit a tree, (BTW, he was drunk) on a completely straight groomed trail.

How is this 55 mph lmit going to stop this type of death? if someone is drinking they seem to think they are 10 feet tall & bullet proof. they get stupid, wreck the sled & die. Now how can you list speed as a factor when alcohol is the cause?

Are you arguing just for the sake of arguing now?

Show me some facts that back up your statements. I have asked you to do this for 4 days now, and nothing from you yet!! I am not asking for your opinions, I want to see the facts that you are basing your opinions on!!

How can you say that speed wasnt a factor? You have yet to answer that one.
By the way, I have provided facts (the quote from Snow Goer magazine), you just dont want to listen to them.

i will continue to ride at night unlimited as usuall....90 in the fog.....yaaaaaa hoooooooo....