23-2-636. Winter trail pass -- fees -- penalties. (1) Except as provided in subsection (4), to be eligible to operate a snowmobile or a dog sled or to use motorized equipment or mechanical transport in snowmobile areas groomed with a grant or funding assistance awarded by the department, a person shall first purchase a winter trail pass for:
(a) $20, if the snowmobile or motorized equipment is registered in Montana pursuant to 61-3-321 or the person operating the dog sled or mechanical transport is a resident as determined under 1-1-215. A trail pass purchased pursuant to this subsection (1)(a) is valid for up to 2 years from the date of purchase but no later than June 30 of the second year.
(b) $35, if the snowmobile or motorized equipment is exempt from registration in Montana pursuant to 61-3-321 or the person operating the dog sled or mechanical transport is not a resident as determined under 1-1-215. A trail pass purchased pursuant to this subsection (1)(b) is valid for up to 1 year from the date of purchase but no later than June 30 of the following year.
(2) The trail pass must be affixed in a conspicuous place to each snowmobile, dog sled, motorized equipment, or mechanical transport used. A trail pass is not transferable between a snowmobile, dog sled, motorized equipment, or mechanical transport. If a snowmobile is sold with an affixed trail pass, the trail pass may continue to be used by the purchaser of the snowmobile until it expires.
(3) Application for the issuance of the trail pass must be made at locations and on forms prescribed by the department.
(4) The purchase of a trail pass is not required for:
(a) a person renting a snowmobile registered pursuant to 61-3-321(11)(c), but the person shall carry proof of rental if operating the snowmobile in a snowmobile area that otherwise requires a trail pass pursuant to subsection (1);
(b) a person participating in a sanctioned dog sled race; or
(c) motorized equipment exempt from registration in Montana pursuant to 61-3-321(14).
(5) Except for 50 cents, which is a search and rescue surcharge deposited pursuant to 87-1-601, money collected by payment of fees under this section must be deposited in the state special revenue fund to the credit of the department and used as follows:
(a) $2 must be remitted to the vendor who sold the trail pass if the vendor is not the department;
(b) $1.50 must be used for the enforcement of snowmobile laws pursuant to this part; and
(c) the remainder must be used by the department for the statewide snowmobile trail grooming program.
(6) The failure to affix the trail pass as required by this section or the making of false statements in obtaining the trail pass is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than $25 or more than $100.
(7) To be eligible for a trail pass pursuant to this section, an all-terrain vehicle must have a wheel base of less than 50 inches in width and be equipped with tracks instead of wheels while operating on a groomed snowmobile trail administered by the department.
(8) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "motorized equipment" means any motorized equipment allowed by a snowmobile area operator; and
(b) "snowmobile" includes snowmobiles used for demonstration purposes by snowmobile dealers.
History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 416, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 187, L. 2017; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 353, L. 2019; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 153, L. 2021.