Ramsey Resident - 2001 - November/December

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SNOWMOBILE SEASON: FUN OR FRUSTRATION? • Some citizens of Ramsey look forward to the snowmobile season, others dread it. The Ramsey Police Department receives numerous complaints about how snowmobiles are being operated. Minnesota State Statutes 84.81 through 84.929 regulate snowmobile operation. They are also covered by Ramsey City ordinances. The following questions are the most often asked. WHEN CAN WE SNOWMOBILE? • Between the hours of 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM Sunday through Thursday. • Between the hours of 8:00 AM Friday to 1:00 AM Saturday. • Between the hours of 8:00 AM Saturday to 1:00 AM Sunday. • One half -hour after sunset to one half -hour before sunrise you MUST operate your snowmobile in the same direction as traffic flow. WHERE CAN WE SNOWMOBILE? • You can snowmobile on your own property. • On the property of another person if you have IN YOUR POSSESSION written permission of the owner of that land. • On the land of a person who has clearly visible signs allowing snowmobiles. • You can operate on Public trail that is designated by the City Council. Ramsey has NONE of these trails in the City limits. • On lakes that are subject to the City's jurisdiction. The only lake of this type in Ramsey is Emerald Pond. • On the right -of -ways of State Trunk Highways and County State Aid roads. • On the right -of -ways of City streets in NON -MUSA AREAS. WHERE IS IT ILLEGAL TO SNOWMOBILE? • On someone's land without his or her permission. • City Parks. You may operate on the water of Emerald Pond but NOT in the park area. • Golf Courses. • School grounds. • Tree Nurseries or planted areas. • In the median or area between opposing lanes of traffic. • On the right -of ways of City streets INSIDE the MUSA area. WHO CAN OPERATE A SNOWMOBILE? • People who are 18 or older. Effective 10/01/1998, persons who were born after December 31, 1976, must possess a snowmobile safety certificate. This is true even if the person is over 18. 9 • A person who is at least 14 but younger than 18 may operate a snowmobile if they have a valid safety certificate IN THEIR POSSESSION. • A person younger than 14 may NOT operate a snowmobile in the City of Ramsey. This is a Ramsey City ordinance. WHAT EQUIPMENT IS REQUIRED ON A SNOWMOBILE? • Brakes to stop and control the movement of the snowobile. • A "dead man throttle ". • A headlight of sufficient intensity to reveal people or objects at a distance of 100 feet. • At least one red taillight. • 16 square inches of reflective material in front of the handle bars. • The muffler must be in working order and not modified at all. • If towing people or things you must use a rigid tow bar. Although a landowner maintains the road right -of -way, they are publicly owned. Therefore, landowners CANNOT place barricades, fences, posts, or other objects, including snow piles, in the right -of -way. If they place such items in the right -of -way they are subject to civil liability in the event these items cause injury or damage to a vehicle. Please come to the Ramsey Police Department for a full copy of the snowmobile ordinances and also a map of the MUSA area. You can also call (763) 427- 6812 and request a copy. AvoID A TicKET! DON PARK ON CITY STREETS 2 A.M. TO 6 A.M. Parking is not allowed on Ramsey streets between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., according to City Ordinance #603.19, Subd.3. Police officers issue citations to vehicles parked illegally. The ordinance provides the Police Department patrol units with a valuable tool to watch out for and investigate suspicious vehicles which may be parked on the street while the occupants are committing illegal acts during early morning hours. The ordinance also assists Public Works crews in snow removal efforts during the winter. Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. — John Lennon