Me and 2 other friends got tickets ($130) for having Michigan registration and Indiana drivers licsenses. I use the sled mostly in MI, and have a MI trail permit, yet get a ticket on Buffalo run. Indiana residents have to pay to ride in Michigan, why is it not the same for Indiana? The CO said that sleds and ATV's are this way, but boats can be registered in the state of primary useage. The CO also said they were not going to intoduce trail permits for Indiana again since it was thought of as a new tax. It's BS that we have to go though this and all we need to fix it is a trail permit, which we should have anyway...

I don't understand the question exactly

you reside in IN , have IN drivers License

operate your sled in MI
have MI registration
have MI trail permit

and got busted for what in what state?

I reside in IN
have IN Drivers License
ride in MI or WI
have MI and WI trail permit
and register sleds in IL
with all my stickers (3)
I've yet to be asked to pull out my DL

BKG

You would have gotten a ticket too! If you are a Indiana resident and ride Indiana trails you have to have your sled registered in IN. Its not really a question, just trying to get some people together so that we can get a indiana trail permit going! Either that, or I'm going to go get a Michigan drivers liscense...

I agree, we have to pay to ride MI trails, Michigan residents should pay to ride IN trails. But in your case, why not just register the sled in In? You still purchase a MI permit to ride there and you would also be legal in In.

It should be primary usage, just like watercraft. I don't understand why Indiana doesn't take advantage of the revinew created by Indiana trail permits. If they had an Indiana trail permit, I would have been fine...The way it is right now, Indiana snowmobiles pay for the trail grooming and the leasing of the property from its owners during the snowmobile season. All those sleds up in Galien and New Buffalo rides the Indiana trails for free all season, and I have to pay? Michigan P.O Box is sounding better all the time...

uhm......you mean like havein an ILLINOIS PLATE on yer car but an INDIANA LICENSE?????????? you got busted eh?????

yeah I got busted, but it shouldn't matter, my boat is registered in Michigan and its OK, don't understand why its not the same for sleds?

Wow. I just bought a new sled in michigan and reside in Indiana. They told me you could still register it in Michigan. Which I did... Now I;m gonna have to re-register in IN.. Crap!!!! Luckily I didnt get nailed in IN on the trail. I guess I have 31 days to register it.. By then the snow will be gone.. I will just show the sales receipt and not my temporary Registration in MI...

That is bull that they did that. Mostly it is just they want to verify it isnt stolen...

Just curious why were they asking for your drivers license.I got asked once for my license in mi. but never in indiana.

this is how it went down

-4 of us from Indiana, 3 of which had MI tags, and the other just had paperwork and a photocopied check for Indiana tags.
-CO is at Sycamore entrance to Sodbusters, and we stop since the one sled had no #'s
-CO asked if we had MI drivers liscenes, we say no.
-CO gives the 3 sleds with MI tags tickets, and the one with no #'s just paperwork gets off with no ticket.
-CO says that he will honor the paperwork for Indiana tags, but if we ride to MI the sled with paperwork and a photocopied check will get a ticket in MI.
-He did let us ride that day on his ticket, thanks...

Great i have the same problem i registered my in mich because when i bought my sled in indiana and the registration was out, we were going to michigan the next week. Indiana registration takes to long to get, in michigan you can get the same day at the dmv. This is crap, if this is the way its going to be they should make it easier to register in indiana

3 words...our man Mitch, don't be surprised if our DNR is leased out to the Iranians.

I'd like to chime in here. I have lots of thought about this situation, and don't take offense, but people like you are the reason that Indiana will not have any trails within 10 years. You took money from the Indiana trail system and gave it to Michigan when you registered your sled there. Way to go. And then you bitch because you get a ticket.

The off road vehicle laws can be readily found on the Indiana DNR website and are not too long to read.

exactly why we need a trail permit. you think I want to pay personal property tax on a boat, 2 sleds, 6 cars and a trailer? Think about all the sleds in Galien and New buffalo that rides these trails for free, its not me closing down the trails...

If there was a sticker everyone had to buy, it wouldn't matter where your sled was taged.
I called Bauer and Dvorak to see what they had to say and to let them know they were losing money, haven't heard back yet

I talked to a friend that lives in new york and i guess it is the same there too, you have to have a ny tag or you will get a ticket, but they also dont have trail permits were he lives. He says there riding in 3-4 ft.

Also, as far as I know, you won't be able to ride in other states as well. If you go let's say to Montana on a group ride, they won't give you trail permits, since you have to show that you are registered in the state in which you reside. so you're stuck riding only Mi. trails.

Also, the Indiana registration and the extra tax that you pay, I think can be added as a tax deductin just like your car. I'll check with my CPA when I get my taxes done this year.

never could understand why people register in a diff. state than they live......we all know its illegal

Obviously we ALL don't know its illegal, since there are others that responded to this post that have done the same thing I did.
My boat is registered in MI and thats not illegal, can you tell me what the difference is?????????????????????????????

A boat is a small craft that floats on top of the water and uses a small engine/prop for forward movement. A snowmobile is a small vehicle with skis on the front for steering and uses a long track for forward movement. Hope that helps.

your boat is illegal also.....so what ya mean is a can live in INDIANA and register my car in NEVADA and register my motorcycle in NEW YORK and register my JET-SKI in FLORIDA and register my SLED in MONTANA and rregister my boat in KENTUCKY.....think about what yer sayin.......so the cops crusin the parking lot lookin for ILLINOIS PLATES in INDIANA APARTMENT COMPLEXES with INDIANA DRIVERS LICENSES are wrong to ticket them..... and when i launch the boat in MINNESOTA with ILLINOIS stickers and an INDIANA LICENSE thats ok???????? you gotta register EVERYTHING IN THE STATE YOU LIVE IN OR ITS ILLEGAL.....CUT AND DRIED.

Did you get a ticket in Michigan or Indiana ?


I checked last year with Lansing and you CAN register your sled in Michigan but live in another State..........

ya know what slays me is....when you ask a person why they did this.....THEY ALWAYS SAY.....cause that state is cheaper.....or that state is easier.......they know all along its not right. i must know 100's that do this. its just that the states are starting to get pissed about it and watchin it real close now cause they are losing money.....don't feel sorry at all, and not tryin to piss ya off.....just register in state you live in.....can i ask WHY you register in MICHIGAN.....cause its cheaper or somethin?????????? INDIANA is 30 dollars for 3 years...whats MICHIGANS????

right thats MICHIGANS LAW....but INDIANA'S says you must be registered in INDIANA so it over rides MICH law....cause thats where the drivers license is from....heck if this is the case....i think i'll go get 25 licenses for EACH STATE around me.....that way when i get a ticket i just keep handin out a diff state....AHHAHAHAHAHAHA

Well it is not cut and dry. If the dealerships selling these vehicles are pushing you to register it at the time of the sale. Most people have no clue. They told me yeah you can register it in MI. Boats and waverunners they told me can be registered out of state and so could snowmobiles... So, no it is not clear to what the laws are by any means.

To me it is bogus that you did get a ticket. The sled is registered and you show proof of ownership. What the heck is the big deal. To me the laws are not clear and if they allow boats and waverunners to be reg in other states. Then sleds should be allowed as well.

I just bought a new sled. I have rode 100 miles in indiana.. And 230 miles in Michigan so far this year. Actually in the last 2 weeks... There are not many places to ride in INDIANA. Granted I live just a mile from the buffalo run trail and I put more miles on in Michigan.

Bunch of crap if you ask me.. We just want to ride and have fun.. We are giving alot of tax dollars to gas stations.. Restaurants.. bars... etc while we are out... And they want to screw with us on a fricken reg tag...

The boat is NOT illegal, I asked the CO. Watercraft can be registered in the state of primary usage. Maybe you should read the whole post before you spout off...

Indiana

Sounds to me like this guy in unknowledgable with the law and the ticket you got can be fought and proved wrongly given....-CO says that he will honor the paperwork for Indiana tags, but if we ride to MI the sled with paperwork and a photocopied check will get a ticket in MI.... BS! I even was checked in MI due to no regis. sticker on my sled, pulled out my copied paperwork and copy of check, he crossreferenced the VIN on the paper and machine and let me go. It's not our fault it takes IN 4 weeks or more to process and send stickers.

Also about a IN resident registrating your sled in another state, I call BS there until someone can prove/show me where it says you cannot do that. MI or any other state will let me register even though I'm an IN resident, just like they did for you. If it was illegal they would blatently say "your an IN resident and can't register here".


WRONG! If your a out of state resident but keep your boat in the water here in IN for more than 30 days, by IN law you are supposed to register the boat in IN, and they will ticket you if the boat is left in the water over that period of time.

CO said less than 22 days on Indiana lakes for foriegn registration...

Your right.... There is no provision in Michigan Law that says you cant register a sled in Michigan if you live in another state.... We even have guys that live in texas, but ride up here register there sleds in Michigan...

IT IS NOT ILLEGAL !!!!!! I questioned it 2 years ago, as I stopped a guy from Indiana and he had Michigan Reg's.... Verified it with the DNR Law Division and our Secretary of State.....


Im not familiar with Indiana Law, but I would look into it before paying the ticket.....

Heres a copy of your Snwomobile law in Indiana.....

First an excerpt and then the Link to the whole Law..

IC 14-16-1-9
Registration; application, issuance, and certificate
Sec. 9. (a) The owner of each vehicle required to be registered
under this chapter must do the following every three (3) years:
(1) File an application for registration with the department on forms provided by the department.
(2) Sign the application.
(3) If the off-road vehicle is purchased after December 31, 2003, include a copy of the bill of sale.
(4) Include a signed affidavit in which the applicant swears or affirms that the information set forth in the application by the applicant is correct.
(5) Pay a fee of thirty dollars ($30).
(b) Upon receipt of an application in approved form, the department shall enter the application upon the department's records and issue to the applicant the following:
(1) A certificate of registration containing the following:
(A) The number awarded to the vehicle.
(B) The name and address of the owner.
© Other information that the department considers necessary.
(2) Two (2) decals indicating the vehicle's registration number and the year in which the registration will expire that must be attached to the vehicle as provided in section 11.5 of this chapter.
© A certificate of registration must:
(1) be pocket size;
(2) accompany the vehicle; and
(3) be made available for inspection upon demand by a law enforcement officer.

http://www.ai.org/legislative/ic/code/title14/ar16/ch1.html

wow.

Let's clear this up a little.


1. As an Indiana resident you can register your sled in ANY state. So, your dealer was right. You can register it in Michigan and legally ride it in Michigan. The fact that you then can't legally ride it in Indiana has been brought to the dealer's attention before. If your dealer claims they didn't know, then they better get in touch with the ISA and become a member so they don't piss off anymore customers.

2. Indiana off-road vehicle laws state that the only time you can legally ride your off road vehicle in Indiana without an Indiana registration is if you have it registered in another state AND you are a non-resident of Indiana.

3. As far as why someone would not register in Indiana, it's to avoid the "toy tax." (personal property tax on travel trailers, snowmobiles, etc.)

4. Trail permits have been brought to the table before and shot down. Perhaps if the snowmobile fund keeps dwindling they will re-think that idea. Since our budget is a pittance compared to Michigan's, I think a $10 yearly permit would just about cover it. But, if everyone with a sled in Indiana registered it in Indiana it may be a moot point.

5. 5 years ago I was stopped by the Mi DNR a week after I bought my first sled. I had copies of the sales receipts and my check. He let me go but said that technically I'm not legally registered and I should get a ticket. I've heard this story going good and bad.


(edit: Lawdog beat me to the punch as I was typing this!)

Here's the proper section (I posted this last year, sorry for the repost):

IC 14-16-1-8
Registration; requirement; exemptions
Sec. 8. (a) Except as otherwise provided, the following may not be operated on public property unless registered:
(1) An off-road vehicle.
(2) A snowmobile.
(b) Except as provided under subsection ©, a vehicle that is purchased after December 31, 2003, must be registered under this chapter.
© Registration is not required for the following vehicles:
(1) A vehicle that is exclusively operated in a special event of limited duration that is conducted according to a prearranged schedule under a permit from the governmental unit having jurisdiction.
(2) A vehicle being operated by a nonresident of Indiana as authorized under section 19 of this chapter.
(3) A vehicle being operated for purposes of testing or demonstration with temporary placement of numbers as set forth in section 16 of this chapter.
(4) A vehicle the operator of which has in the operator's possession a bill of sale from a dealer or private individual that includes the following:
(A) The purchaser's name and address.
(B) A date of purchase that is not more than thirty-one (31) days preceding the date that the operator is required to show the bill of sale.
© The make, model, and vehicle number of the vehicle provided by the manufacturer as required by section 13 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.186-2003, SEC.41; P.L.225-2005, SEC.12

IC 14-16-1-19
Vehicles registered in foreign nation or state
Sec. 19. A vehicle registered in another state or country to a nonresident of Indiana may be operated within Indiana under authority of the registration for a period not to exceed twenty (20) days in one (1) year.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.9.

I understand what the law is i just wish it was easier to register, ive talked to some CO's that i know from the lakes around here and they agreee

I couldn't disagree with you more. The Dnr and cops around here are a complete joke pulling you over time and time again, for no reason. I got the same ticket this weekend and my lawyer will be taking care of it for me. This is the main reason that sledin in Indiana is a joke! I would rather give my money to a state that cater to sleds and not pay personal property tax on a sled that I already pay sales tax for. No offense to the guys that run buffalo run system, when I ride down here I just ride our underground system in La Porte.

If you live in Indiana and register your sled in Michigan, then get the Hell out of here. Move to fucking Michigan. The treasury for the DNR in the fall was $141,000 and change. The money is dwindling fast with everything they provide to the 5 trail clubs in terms of equipment and signs. But that's okay because assholes like you don't see a problem with registering your sled out of state. And those who do and get busted on an IN trail, "oh man thoses DNR guys are being dickheads. I'll just get my slick willy lawyer to get me out of it." I know the IN system is messed up, but we have to put up with until it changes. Well, don't worry, at this rate the treasury for snowmobiling will be depleted and we won't have any trails in IN.

Your way out of line buddy. Bottom line is Indiana is not snowmobiler friendly period, everyone knows it most are just afraid to admitt it. Its funny to come on these boards and see guys like you act like complete hard asses while hiding behind there computer screeen. The restration law is bogus period!

Having lived in Illinois my whole life i know several guys who would register their sleds in WI because thats where they ride. Makes sense to me. I always registered my sleds in IL but hardly ever rode there because the snow just wasnt there and the number of areas to ride(legally) are slim. I must say that i have never ridden in IN but i did register here. Seems logical that one would opt to support the state where they ride even if they dont live there. Getting a registration from another state because its cheaper? I guess your gonna find those types everywhere.

The bottom line is, there is a law to follow. If you don't follow it you will pay the price, whether you agree with the law or not. Yes, Michigan caters to sleds, but for a very good reason, they get a hell of a lot more snow than Indiana and can survive on the business. In Indiana we try to make the best with what little snow we get. But to do so we need cooperation from the users (i.e.-You and me). If you can pay hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars for gas, gear, oil, hotels, food, etc., then why not pay the measley personaly property tax and be done with it?

Ridegreencat, don't take it personally. That's too easy to do on the "net" these days.

Also, the DNR do not pull over for no reason. I have passed by them several times. They look at my sled and see the Indiana registration and just waive me by. Same in Michigan.

I disagree, I have ridden into so called "trail stops" where every sled is pulled over and registrations checked. By the way All states DNR hate FIB's. Its a fact.

You're right. I meant "not always." I have been through stops where they (Indiana and Mi) wanted to see my registration papers too.

I suppose FIBs could be Illinois or Indiana.

Went through 5 "trail stops" in Indiana this season and never even spoke to the officer, just waived through.

belive it or not I just registered my third sled in indiana that i bought last month and one week later the registation is at my house unbelivible. after all last it ook them four weeks to get it to me so a much needed improvment was made.. I have no problem paying 30.00 dollars it is drop in the bucket in the big picture of snowmobiling cost but it keeps you legal. but the crock of shit is that they charge you apersonal property tax. on something that you paid tax once all ready.. taxation without representation..