Everybody who frequents this forum is well aware of the recent discussions we've had about how to stay safe on trails, whether it be through law enforcement, trail width, or whatever. A couple weeks ago I went to the Snobusters meeting to discuss the topic, and as I reported, the club was very interested in the topic. As I said then, the issue of trail width ended in a stale-mate, but when it came to law enforcement, everybody was in agreement that things had to change, and the club president wrote a letter that was given to various law enforcement.

Last night I talked to the trail master and apparently the police were recptive to the ideas and were willing to try implimenting some measures to keep people to the right. According to him the police were out this past Saturday on a corner on Airport road. They stuck some cones in the center of the corner, and stood there with a digital camera taking pictures of riders who were out of control. I guess a lot of tickets were handed out, and with the pictures as proof, it's unlikely that too many of these will get overturned.

I guess that this was sucessful enough that next season they're going to do this regularly, moving from corner to corner so that people won't know where they're at.

This is a huge step in the right direction, and exactly the type of thing that will wind up saving somebody's life, even though they'll never know it. I think it also sends a message that everybody can live with: Ride hard, ride fast, ride right.

Kudos to the Snobusters for being so quick to act, and kudos to the police for going through with it. I'm really looking forward to riding next year after word gets out and I won't have to pucker my butthole every time I come to a corner.

That is AWESOME!!!

thats great news!

I feel safer already. Thanks for the news!

It's a great feeling, isn't it? After I got done talking with the trail master (I ran into him while I was riding - he was grooming) I was in a giddy mood the for the rest of the ride home.

JIM85IROC- Who was doing the corner checks? Was it State Police , Wardens, or Sherifs?

Probably State Police. They are the only LEOs I have ever seen on the trails.

Thanks Jim!

I was at A-Z on Saturday and noticed the State Troopers truck and trailer in the lot so it was most likely them.

Nice!!!!
They seriously need that shit on saturdays and sunday mornings up here in the nek.

No need to thank me. I didn't do enough to deserve a "thanks". All I did was go to the meeting and bring this subject up. The Snobusters as a whole deserves the credit.

This is great - how do we get the trailmasters from the other clubs to see this. Perhaps you may want to submit an article to VAST News to get the word out around the state (and maybe NH too) - Thanks for the effort!

ABSOLUTELY THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN!
i'm all for keeping right but you just gave the state of Vt some ammunition for employing speed limits and god knows what else! this will turn around and bite you right in the ASS and i will be there to say "I told you so!"

Why do you think this is a speed limit issue? It was made clear throughout the process that imposing speed limits would be a detriment to the club and to the sport in general. The last thing the club needs is for large members to go ride elsewhere because they're suddenly stuck with 35mph speeds. The club is well aware of this, and is very clear in conveying this to the police.

Back in 2002 when I started riding, the cops were out in woodford with radar. That's the last time I saw them doing it. Dispite being fully aware that they could have a cash cow setting up in woodford, they have not done it. They are doing the corner enforcement now because of the dialogue started between the Snobusters and them. If the snobusters are firm on their beliefs that speed limits should not be imposed, why do you think the police will suddenly start enforcing them?

On a bit of a darker note, my personal opinion is that the state police don't take any of this seriously, and the only reason that they're doing ANYTHING other than the bare minimum (checking reg & insurance) is because of the pleas from the Snobusters. I really don't think they're going to suddenly doing any more than they have to, but due to the recent situation, "keep right" enforcement is now something that they have to do.

I think you are wrong on this point. I think that the State Police will do whatever is necessary to make the trails safe. But they have to hear from us as to what problems we are seeing out there on the trails. In Mt Tabor this weekend I stopped at an area where the State Police were doing what you call "the bare minimum". During the 15 minutes that I was stopped there I saw them write two sleds for modified exhaust and another two sleds for not having proof of insurance. I think that these checks as well as select enforcement of corners and speed in some areas rounds out what they can do for us and the sport. All we have to do , as you already have, is ask them.

first off, all of the enforcement that is done in the entire southern state of vermont, is headed up by the southern vermont snowmobile task force. as for a letter being sent to the state police, or the law enforcement departments, our southern vermont task force officers are also open to the hardcore sledder forum, and trust me, they do read it. so its just my 2 cents, but i think that the task force needs a little credit here as well. oh yeah buy the way, that was there own idea to enforce the corners, after reading the forum. the task force complies of, vt. state police, bennington police, winhall police, wilmington police, dover police,national forest agents, game wardens, southern vermont search and rescue team, bennington sheriffs, and if i forgot anyone i am sorry.

So.. out of all those departments that comprise the Southern Vermont Task Force, Who is making up their own fines for snowmobile violations? I was talking with a guy in Mt. Tabor about three weeks ago who said he got a ticket for no insurance. He said it was for $150.00. But if you check the schedule of fines on the VAST web site the waiver fine for no insurance is $601.00.

even though national forest is part of the task force, they have a different schedule of fines. keeping in mind, that if you get a ticket from a national forest agent, thats a federal violation. if you dispute your ticket it has to be heard in burlington, vt., and at the hearing if you are found guilty, there is no limits to the fines. the violation also has to be on national forest land. any other violations beyond national forest land is mandated by the fines imposed on the vast web site.

Thanks for the info Snowman. I'm not sure but I thought he said it was one of the PD's that he received the ticket from.

I sincerely hope that you're right, however I really haven't seen evidence of that on the trails. Up until this past weekend, everybody knew that they could ride like an animal as long as they slowed down for BN 5, and the parking lot at the bottom of Airport Rd. Sometimes they'd also be at the intersection of 7 and C 7 100, but you can see them from a mile away there. The police presence was simply not effective, and hasn't been in years. In talking to one of the officers that was at Airport road, he didn't sound overly interested in doing anything when I mentioned corner enforcement to him. He just told me all about how hard it is to do.

If they took it upon themselves to set up in the corners on saturday based on what they read here, then it was simply an odd coincidence that the Snobusters had brought this up at the most recent Governor's Snowmobile Advisory Council meeting... unless I'm mistaken and that hasn't taken place yet since the March 6 Snobusters meeting. But regardless of how it came about, it's very encouraging to see it happening, and is also very encouraging to know that they're listening... whatever the method. The last thing anybody wants is any kind of "us vs them" type of situation with the police. We all want the same outcome. Having them out on Saturday and continued enforcement next season will have a tremendous impact on our safety on the trails, and I'm very excited to see it happening.

I have seen some very encouraging communication, among the law enforcement groups, this season. There are some very dedicated individuals that are also snowmobilers. Law enforcement has taken some big hits, some deserved, over the past few years, so they are a little apprehensive about starting something new. They now have been asked to perform specific enforcement techniques. The right people are talking and the right people are listening. It won't be perfect and we don't want Teddy Miller clones out there. In Chittenden County, we have a model group of the Sheriff's Dept and State Police Aux., that work very well together. Deputy Sheriff Sergeant Bob Stebbins, is our County Safety Coordinator, and is very active in the County Club. He has trained his group to think like a snowmobiler and to keep everything within reason. These guys donated a weekend of their time to promote Snowmobile Safety Week at the U Mall in S. Burlington. They had sleds there and were a huge asset. They spent a lot of time explaining the enforcement side of their duties, but also took the time to show the human side of a man with a badge. We held a Safety Course for the Sheriff's Dept, at their request. They had several deputies that were new to the sport, and one that was young enough to mandate the Course. This was also volunteer time for them. I know there are sledders that don't want enforcement, but the "go and do what we want" attitude is what put us in this position.
In Chittenden County a large group could very well have a deputy or two inserted into the group, so if someone is inclined to do a high speed pass, well.... don't. It'll be an expensive move. We welcome our law enforcement friends, because they really are our friends.
Yes, good things are happening!!!!

Good post! The officers are out there to enforce and to help out and the guys that I have run into in Vt have been stand up people. Yea - one of my buds broke a law - his bad and he was in the wrong - but the officer was polite, friendly, and cut my friend a break by telling him that we are snowmobilers and enjoy the sport - just get it right the next time. We stood there and had good conversation with them for a few minutes afterwards.

I was with the guy that got a $371 ticket. It was the State Police. They were good guys. We talked about the corner cones. I do not think it is a thing just to get money and if it is let the knuckleheads pay for the trail maintenance. Not sure I see a problem with that.