9171-R3_MSA_SnowmobileMaine

Key Legal Guidelines • License & Insurance: A driver's license is not required to operate a snowmobile. Liability insurance is not legally required, though the MSA strongly encourages riders to have coverage. • Landowner Permission (Crucial): You do not have the right to operate your snowmobile on someone else’s land if permission has not been explicitly granted. Stick to marked and groomed snowmobile trails, where landowner permission has already been secured. • llegal Areas: It is illegal to operate a snowmobile in many sensitive areas, including cemeteries, near hospitals, too close to private homes, on public sidewalks, and on railroad track rights-of-way (except at authorized trail crossings). • Utility Corridors: Riding is only allowed on power lines and utility corridors if there is an officially authorized and marked snowmobile trail present. • Border Slash: Due to security and safety concerns, riding the border slash between the US and Canada is strongly discouraged. Regulations for Younger Operators While the MSA strongly encourages all young riders to take a safety course, M aine law does not legally require operators under the age of 18 to complete one before operating a snowmobile. Liability Alert : Anyone who allows a person under 18 to operate a snowmobile is held jointly liable with the minor’s parent or guardian for any resulting damages. Mandatory Rules for Minors • Helmets: All snowmobilers under the age of 18 (whether operating or riding as a passenger) must wear a helmet. • Accompaniment (Ages 10 and Under): Children under the age of ten operating a sled must be accompanied by an adult, maintaining visual and voice control. This restriction does not apply if the child is operating on their parents’ property with permission. • Road Crossings (Ages 14 and Under): Children under the age of 14 are prohibited from crossing any road maintained for travel while operating a snowmobile. An older operator must cross the sled for them. Safety Note: Operating a snowmobile requires maturity, strength, and skill. While many Maine children become competent operators through family instruction at a young age, any child without prior training and extensive supervision should not be allowed to operate a snowmobile independently.

j Safety Courses Snowmobile Safety courses are offered by

For Emergency Assistance: To reach a Maine Game Warden 24 hours/day contact the dispatch center nearest you:

Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife: 207-287-5220. A list of their upcoming courses is maintained by IF&W at www.maine.gov/ifw .

HOULTON.................1-800-924-2261 BANGOR...................1-800-432-7381 AUGUSTA.................1-800-452-4664 GRAY.........................1-800-228-0857

j Reporting an Accident If you are involved in, witness to, or made aware of a snowmobile accident resulting in injury to another person, you must make yourself known, render aid to the best of your ability and report the accident by the quickest means possible. All accidents re sulting in a death or injuries requiring a physician must be reported to law enforcement by the quickest means possible. Proper ty damage accidents ($1,000 or more) must be reported within 72 hours using a form provided by IF&W, at www.maine.gov/ifw/ .

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SNOWMOBILE MAINE 2025-2026