Section 25.17 - Equipment1. All snowmobiles operating within the state of New York shall be equipped with: (a) Head lights. At least one white or amber head-lamp having a minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least one hundred feet ahead during hours of darkness under normal atmospheric conditions.(b) Tail light. At least one red tail-lamp having a minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity to exhibit a red light plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear during hours of darkness under normal atmospheric conditions.(c) Brakes. A brake system in good mechanical condition.(d) Reflector material. Reflector material of a minimum area of sixteen square inches mounted on each side of the cowling. Registration numbers must be reflectorized, and such numbers or decorative material may be included in computing the required sixteen square inch area.(e) Mufflers. An adequate muffler system in good working condition. On and after June first, nineteen seventy-two, no snowmobile manufactured after June first, nineteen seventy-two shall be sold or offered for sale unless it is equipped in such a way as to limit noise produced by the snowmobile to not more than eighty-two decibels as measured on the "A" scale at fifty feet. On and after June first, nineteen seventy-five, no such snowmobile manufactured after June first, nineteen seventy-five shall be sold or offered for sale unless it is equipped in such a way as to limit noise produced by the snowmobile to not more than seventy-eight decibels on such scale. On and after June first, nineteen eighty, no such snowmobile manufactured after June first, nineteen eighty, shall be sold or offered for sale unless it is equipped in such a way as to limit noise produced by the snowmobile to not more than seventy-three decibels on such scale. On or after November first, two thousand thirteen, a person shall not operate a snowmobile unless the snowmobile is equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation from which noise emission does not exceed either seventy-eight decibels at fifty feet at full throttle, as measured using a generally accepted test for a snowmobile manufactured after July first, nineteen hundred seventy-seven and sold or offered for sale in this state, or eighty-eight decibels, as measured at four meters from an inline position from the exhaust and four thousand rpm using a generally accepted test for using a stationary snowmobile manufactured after July first, nineteen hundred eighty and sold or offered for sale in this state. Should the federal government adopt snowmobile noise level standards different from those contained in this paragraph and require that the state conform thereto, the commissioner shall be authorized to adopt rules and regulations superseding the noise level requirements of this paragraph to achieve compliance with federal standards. No snowmobile shall be modified by any person in any manner that shall amplify or otherwise increase total noise emission to a level greater than that emitted by the snowmobile as originally constructed, regardless of date of manufacture.2. Inspection and testing. The commissioner may adopt rules and regulations with respect to the inspection and testing of snowmobiles.3. No person shall have for sale, sell or offer for sale in this state any snowmobile which fails to comply with the provisions of subdivision one, or which does not comply with the specifications for such equipment required by the rules and regulations of the commissioner after the effective date of such rules and regulations.4. No person shall operate an authorized ambulance, police or civil defense snowmobile as an emergency vehicle unless it is equipped with one or more lighted, red or combination red or white lights which is revolving, rotating, flashing, oscillating or constantly moving light having a minimum candle power of sufficient intensity to be plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet in all directions under normal atmospheric conditions.5. No person shall operate a snowmobile or ride as a passenger on a snowmobile unless he or she is wearing a protective helmet of a type approved by the commissioner, except when operating a snowmobile or riding as a passenger on private lands owned by the operator or passenger, or to which the operator or passenger has a contractual right other than as a member of a club or association, and for which no compensation is paid to the owner with respect to such operation.N.Y. Parks Rec. and Hist. Preserv. Law § 25.17
Amended by New York Laws 2013, ch. 473,Sec. 1, eff. 11/1/2013.