What's happening
This bill creates a pilot program allowing Canadian citizens to use snowmobiles in certain New York counties with a seasonal trail pass instead of state registration.
Why it matters
Encourages winter tourism by making it easier for Canadian visitors to use their own snowmobiles in select northern New York counties, potentially boosting local economies during the winter season.
Maintains safety and legal standards by requiring trail pass applicants to show valid Canadian registration and provides them with New York’s snowmobile laws and regulations, helping to ensure compliance and responsible use.
Limits the program to a defined geographic area and time frame, allowing New York to assess the impact and effectiveness of the policy before considering broader or permanent changes.
Requires Canadian snowmobilers to pay fees equivalent to those paid by New York residents for local trail use, ensuring financial fairness and contributing to trail maintenance funding.
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Who cares
Canadian snowmobile owners
The bill would replace New York registration with a one-year trail pass requiring valid Canadian registration, applicable fees and pleasure-only use.
Businesses in the nine designated counties
Businesses in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego and St. Lawrence counties could sell trail passes with approval from the parks commissioner.
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Its commissioner would approve businesses to sell passes, which must come with information on New York snowmobile laws and regulations.
Department of Motor Vehicles
Its commissioner would be authorized to make regulatory changes needed to implement the temporary program, which would expire January 1, 2025.
Headline styles
Snowmobile Passes for Canadians
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Print number 5129a
- Amend and recommit to transportation
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–2
- Ordered to third reading cal.1479
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Seasonal Trail Pass for Canadians
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Billy Jones
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5129--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 9, 2017
Introduced by Sens. RITCHIE, LITTLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -recommitted to the Committee on Transportation in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to creating an exemption to the snowmobile registration requirements by creating a seasonal trail pass pilot program for Canadian citizens; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 2222 of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 839 of the laws of 1973, is amended to read as follows:
5. Application. The owner of each snowmobile requiring registration under this section shall present an application for registration to the commissioner, on a blank to be prepared and furnished by the commissioner for that purpose. Such application shall contain or be accompanied by such evidence of the ownership of the snowmobile described in the application as may be required by the commissioner. Where the snowmobile owner is a citizen of Canada, no registration shall be required, but a trail pass as described in subdivision five-a of this section shall be required.
§ 2. Section 2222 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision 5-a to read as follows:
5-a. Canadian citizen trail pass. All applicable fees shall be paid to receive a trail pass. Trail pass fees shall be equal to those described in subdivisions four and four-a of this section, in addition to any other applicable fees prescribed by law. Passes shall not authorize the use of a snowmobile other than for pleasure, and shall require compli-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10422-05-8
S. 5129--A 2
ance with all laws and regulations applicable to the use of snowmobiles in New York state.
(a) Passes shall expire after one year, must be prominently displayed on the cowl of the snowmobile at all times when the snowmobile is within the borders of New York state.
(b) Trail passes shall be sold in the following counties only: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, and St. Lawrence.
(c) Passes will be sold by businesses approved by the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation.
(d) Applications for a trail pass must be accompanied by valid Canadian registration.
(e) Passes shall be issued with information concerning the laws and regulations of New York state that pertain to the safe and legal operation of a snowmobile within New York state's borders.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law and shall expire January 1, 2025 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation by the commissioner of the department of motor vehicles that is necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to creating an exemption to the snowmobile registration requirements by creating a seasonal trail pass pilot program for Canadi- an citizens; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expi- ration thereof
Purpose
To allow Canadian snowmobilers a quick and convenient way to ride in New York State without having to go through the current, cumbersome regis- tration process.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends subdivision five of section 2222 of the vehicle and traffic law to exempt Canadian riders from the current registration process, but requires them to comply with a new section of law created by this act
Section 2: Amends subdivision section 2222 of the vehicle and traffic law by adding a new subdivision, 5-a, which describes the trail pass pilot program.
Section 3: States that the act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall become law and shall expire on January 1, 2025. Section three also authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehi- cles to amend or repeal any regulation necessary for the implementation of the act.
Justification
New York State draws nearly twenty-thousand out of state riders to its world famous trails every year, generating over three-quarters of a million dollars in revenue from the registrations these riders must obtain. This figure is only a part of the massive economic impact gener- ated by these tourists, because it does not include the hotel rooms, meals, fuel, and other purchases made by these tourists in communities across the state. For U.S. citizens from other states a new DMV tool has made it possible to instantly download and print a temporary registra- tion, wherever they are, and then head to the trails. However, New York State's Canadian neighbors cannot take advantage of this process. Cana- dian riders must physically present themselves at a DMV office to obtain a registration, a process that can take several hours and might not result in the immediate issuance of a registration. Also, DMV offices are closed on weekends, when most Canadian tourists are likely to want to travel to New York State. As a result, despite being so close to many of New York State's best trail systems, very few Canadian riders are compelled to make the journey south. In fact, of the 17,373 out of state riders that enjoyed New York State's trails in 2015 only ninety-six of them were Canadian.
The trail pass system proposed by this act would help to reduce the barriers to Canadian riders, making New York State a more accessible destination. Trail passes will cost the same as state-issued registra- tions, so neither the State nor snowmobile clubs will be denied any revenue. Also, the pass will be available instantly on the presentation of a valid Canadian registration at any departmentally approved retail- er. Canadians must present, on request, significant proof of identity and ownership when transporting their snowmobile across the border. There is no need to subject them to a redundant evaluation at a DMV office. Furthermore, by making it easier for Canadians to ride in New York State this program will increase the economic impact of tourist- riders by increasing the number of Canadian riders who make the journey south.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect within 90 days.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.