This is the letter recently mailed or emailed to the clubs concerning the 55MPH speed limit:

As another snowmobile season is upon us, there have been a number of accidents and fatalities due to speed and alcohol.. It is too early to tell if the accident rate or fatality rate will be higher this season than in any other seasons. We do know however that the press has chosen to highlight every accident and fatality, especially those related to speed.
The Democrat & Chronicle newspaper of Rochester stated in an editorial that “Snowmobiling has become one of New York's most popular winter sports, with more than 150,000 registered vehicles. Now greater focus is needed to make it among the safest.” The Syracuse Post Standard did a story on safe sledding and quoted Sandy Murphy, secretary of the Onondaga County Snowmobile Association who stated: “Speed is the most often cited factor in accidents.” News 10 in Syracuse did a story on a head-on collision in which one snowmobiler died from injuries. News 10 reported: “With the extent of the injuries I'd have to say there was quite a bit of speed, but whether it was above or beyond what is safe obviously it wasn't, when they collide like that it wasn't safe," said Sheriff Reuel Todd, Oswego County. Jim Eustice is the safety director for the Ironwood SnoGoers Snowmobile Club in Baldwinsville. He says by far, the number one killer in snowmobile accidents is speed.”

Of course this press has garnered the attention of our state legislators and a bill, A3792 has been introduced by Assemblyman Morelle, Chairman of the Assembly Tourism Committee and sponsor of our SRRA bill in the Assembly that would enact a maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour for snowmobiles. The justification for this bill is as follows:

In recent years, high speed and reckless operation have been significant contributing causes of snowmobiling fatalities and accidents. It is estimated that one-third of accidents are directly related to speed. In 1995-96, fatalities reached a record of 21 deaths. Many new models of snowmobiles are high performance machines capable of travel in excess of 100 M.P.H. As with other moving vehicles, stopping distances rapidly increase with speed. Cars and motorcycles are limited to 55 M.P.H., or slower, on roads other than interstates. Snowmobiles are certainly no less hazardous than those vehicles, and should be held to at least the same limitations. The bill makes an exception for races and rallies issued a permit by the Commissioner of Parks.

Other states have speed limits on snowmobiles even lower than 55 mph: Minnesota limits speed to 50 mph; New Hampshire and Idaho to 45 mph; Vermont limits speed to 35 mph on state land only; and, Maine and Michigan have varying posted limits.

According to our lobbyists, there is momentum in the Assembly to pass the 55MPH speed limit bill and, therefore, they have recommended that NYSSA go on the offensive and embrace this legislation as a part of the SRRA bill. As a result we have now vastly increased the likelihood that the Snowmobile Rights and Responsibility Act (SRRA) will pass this year. More importantly, NYSSA’s support for the 55MPH speed limit enhances its credibility as an organization that stands for safety.

On Saturday, March 12th, the NYSSA Board of Directors voted to include the 55PH speed limit provision in the SRRA bill and directed our lobbyists to inform the SRRA bill sponsors of our position.

The language in the bill will emphasize that 55 MPH is the maximum speed limit allowed. The reasonable and prudent language will still be in the law. Trails will not have to be posted at 55 mph and there will be no increased liability placed upon the clubs or NYSSA.

It is important NYSSA and its members snowmobile clubs support safety. Support of a maximum speed limit of 55 MPH will send a message to the media and to the legislators that organized snowmobilers are concerned with the safety of all riders.
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Im a bit confused Is the SRRA bill passed yet? And if it does pass then the speed limit statewide will be 55 mph?Thanks for posting the info :div20:

They are more concerned with speed then alcohol. I know speed is a start but look at Sacanadaga this year with the accidents. They were high speed sleds with alcohol involved. If they werent drinking do you think they would still be alive today? I cant answer it. You can ride fast but riding fast responsibiley is the factor. Snowmobiling is zero alcohol tolerance which is great but if the bars dont limit sledders and start caring then where will it end? You think a drunk person is gonna give a damn about a 55mph speed limit? The speed limit will not help those who drink and drive. A big shout-out to the press of this state. You just give our sport publicity when something gos wrong. God forbid you go up to willard to show the hillclimbs or interview a family out there snowmobiling for the day or anything positive. That is my take on the speedlimit. BTW i live on a lake and have a thundercat and the reason i have the sled is because i live on the lake and blast all around. I dont plan on driving to a maximum speed of 55mph on it either.

I dont believe in it and it is a useless regulation on responsible snowmobilers...Those that obey the laws because they are the laws are going to follow them and the sno-x wannabees are not. Is it unusual when Im out trailriding for me to maintain a constant speed of 55? Of course it is because the speed average is much LOWER! If most people maintain a speed average of 45 M.P.H. FOR A DAY OF RIDING THAT IS FAST. So when responsible sled riders are on a straightaway,conditions are good,you have a long straightaway you cant open the sled up a little bit? You know what will happen? That is where the snowmobile patrols wiil sit so they can summons riders for going 60 in a 55. The places in the trails where accidents happen will be ignored because not alot of people carry excessive speed into those places. The sport is growing and I dont have exact figures on fatalities but I bet it is well below 1%. Since less than 1% of politicians are corrupt (that number is of course higher) lets put some restriction on them. I see this as another attack on the rights of individuals. Do I Think that something should be done to try to reel in the minority that gives this sport the bulk of its bad publicity? yes. Is a blankett 55 speed limit tha answer? absolutely not!

I agree with ya.
That said they are being pressured buy the do gooders so by putting the 55 cap on they satisfy those that don't ride / understand sledding and the anti sledding crowd that shows up in the poll of likely voters.
Just like highway laws that are in place to "protect" you, even though your not gonna ride up the thruway at 150 there is a limit set to define the unskilled and clueless so some blame can be legally placed so lawyer politicans have a foundation for suits/cases that fill their pockets.
NYSSA has no choice but to endorse this law as they have to maintain their credibility as spokesmen for us in Albany. Otherwise they would just be labeled outlaws and ignored.
Yeah there will be speed traps, I know of 1 long time one in the Moose River Plains. It's been posted 25 mph for years by the DEC and been a radar trap since it's posting. That trail section is a easy 55 mph straight and whole area can be ridden at 35 mph between the corners safely but it's their game and rules.
I don't think they will be able to post private property unless the landowner agrees but I think most landowners will agree as to limit thier liability.

The many suffer due to the few.
Looks like I'll need another mount for my Valentine One.........

I think they should offer alternatives such as "maintaining positive control" any 1 of a number of phrases instead of agreeing to a catch all speed. And as far as that goes it is up to the NYSSA to make them realize what sledding is all about. Invite those politicians out with a club, show the work involved and what a good day of sledding is all about...I let my membership expire because I just didnt agree with the way things were going...I sled because I love being outdoors and seeing things that make me say wow thats beautiful...Not to be involved in politics. When last I knew the majority of sled owners dont even belong to the organization and know they assume the right to speak for all? Im not bashing here its just 1 of those things about this State that I cant stand. People who have no idea what they are talking about setting policy. What actions did NYSSA take to stop this from happening? Was their a poetition circulated I missed? A letter writing campaign? Or did they roll over and play dead?

The 55 mph speed limit won't save a single person from dieing. Just another NY law that will be enforced about 1% of the time if that. Just get on the thruway in the Albany area. 80 mph is the norm.

Who got a speeding ticket on a truck tail this year? The Moose River Plains speed trap gets a lot of them and a few on Tug Hill. But thats a small sample of the state.

So what will happen to the drag racers at Lanzis and Big Moose Lake? It will be another revenue source for NYS. When an enity needs money or an ego booster go write some tickets. Where will they wrtite the tickets? On the straight aways of course, not in the corners where the accidents happen. Nor will they be out after dark much when most of the problems happen.

Anybody who thinks this will change much needs a big reality check. Just look at the highways. Hasn't the cell phone law made NY a whole bunch safer? NOT!

Is it true that the 55 mph law is lumped in with the 2 tier bill? And it was all or nothing? If it was I would say NY snowmobilers were sold out by the NYSSA BOD.

On top of that it is my understanding(I could be wrong) that they want us to pay for additional patrols which is going to mean more money to Reg. our sleds. Im glad Syracuse got knocked out in the first round.

man i wish we could band together and start boycotting things....if people bought everything they need over the net for a week, it would send a message to this terribly run excuse for a state

Side story....i go to the dmv last week to transfer registration from CT to NY on my company vehicle....they inform me that they have to charge my company a 20 buck "county tax" (among other things of course) I blurt out loudly " a 20 dollar county tax for what?". She says "Oh, i don't know what it's for...the legislature just passed it and they make us collect it". So I retort...."oh, it wouldn't be be going towards the limo drivers 85 k salary like in Erie County would it??" Everyone in the DMV died laughing.
It's like they'd give a tax break on a company vehicle too...ugh

Enough for me. I am done with this state. You want it, come and get it. I will not support this law, nor anyone who does. Speed is not the number one killer in anything. Not cars, boats, sleds, or the like. Stupidity is. Stupid assholes who go too fast for the conditions and loose control. NYSSA supports this? Then they can forget about my dues. Any other club who does, also does not get my money. They will bring it to local clubs and trails by saying "either you endorse this law, or you can forget about getting any funds from the state for maintenance, etc." Well, then I am done with the clubs. Roll over like you pricks always do. No point in standing up to the man. Better to live on your knees, eh? Well I got two words and you will need two hands. Registration going up if you don't belong to a club? Then looks like I will be riding without being registered. I will not support this law diretly or indirectly. This is all bullshit. Every part of it. Dance around the real issues while nothing significant gets done and everyone gets pissed. I am going outlaw. Catch me if you can. As the saying goes, "you'll never take me alive".

Fight on your feet, or live on your knees. Either hold our leaders accountable, or bow to the corrupt. And there is a lot more then 1% of the politicians that are corrupt. More like 1% that aren't. The right wing liberal minority are holding all the chips which dictate how the majority of us live our lives. Are you going to let them tell you how to live yours? They already tell us how to raise our kids. Why do you think that kid hung fishing line up across a trail? It sure wasn't because he has good parental supervision, or even taught the meaning of accountability, or consequences for his actions. All of this is just the tip of the iceberg. Fight it now, or get used to worse.

When its clear and visiability is good crack her open. When on narrow trails play safe, we all know our limits. Don't let the 55 mph limit get you down. Besides I doubt if there is much money out there to enforce this rule anyway.

I for one am against them raising the speed limit in New York. I'm from the Rochester area and know this Assemblyman thats purpposing this law. I have emailed him countless times with only one return email. He stated that Rochester has lost 3 snowmobliers this winter and wanted to prevent this from becoming a statewide norm. Yes, we lost 3 snowmobliers around Rochester this year. But 2 out of the 3 were nothing to do with speed. We had a older lady flip a snowmobile into a ditch and drowned because she was pinned under water. Then we had 2 unsupervised young kids that came up over a hill head on, off trail even. The other death was due to drinking. The snowmobiler left a bar in the late hours of the night and flipped his sled into a ditch. No mention of speed being the factor, just that he was drinking all night.

If New York State wants to reduce the number of accidents and deaths, then stop supporting trails that lead to bars. Let these snowmobile clubs know that none of the registration fee money will support the grooming, marking or maintainence of any trail that leads to bars. After all, drinking is the #1 cause of accidents on snowmobiles. Why we have so many trail systems that lead us to any bar, i'm not sure. I understand the Tug Hill is already set up that way and it would be diffcult to work around it. But I have alot of bars around me that have trails that lead off the main trails to their bar. In my opinion, they make it to easy for snowmobilers to get to the bars and start drinking and riding.