Jeremy Pelletier of Auburn takes a snowmobile for a ride at a dealership in Lewiston on Tuesday. With the deaths of two young snowmobilers this season in Maine, Gov. John Baldacci joined the state Warden Service in urging snowmobilers to be careful, sober and use common sense when they take to Maine’s trails this winter. Twelve died last year participating in the popular outdoor activity.
AUGUSTA, Maine — With winter hardly upon the state and two snowmobile fatalities already having occurred, the Maine Warden’s Service will be stepping up checkpoints and enforcement programs until the end of the season.
Gov. John Baldacci, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Danny Martin, Warden Col. Joe Wilkinson and Maine Snowmobile Association President Bob Myers announced the policy at a press conference Tuesday at department headquarters.
Baldacci described snowmobiling as an industry that runs a $300 million annual economic engine and provides fun and recreation for Maine families and visitors. More than 100,000 sleds are registered in the state.
Baldacci said that with snowmobile accidents claiming the lives of two teenage boys this month and 12 fatalities last year, the need for people to be aware of safety issues cannot be stressed enough.
Not only will game wardens be out in force this winter, the governor also pledged to use the assets of the Maine State Police if safety problems exist along the state’s 13,000 miles of snowmobile trails.
“It’s important to be serious about safety,” Baldacci said. “It’s a great industry and a great opportunity, and we think we have some of the best trails in the country.”
Commissioner Martin urged all riders to wear their helmets, ride at a reasonable speed based on the conditions, never climb aboard a sled after drinking, and to let family members know where they are headed when they go for a ride and when they will return.
Col. Wilkinson said the Warden’s Service and the Maine Snowmobile Association have been working together on safety and other issues for the past few years. He said both groups have the same objectives: “We both love the sport, and we both want it to be safe.”
Last year the wardens conducted numerous special enforcement details throughout the state. Of the 2,100 sleds that passed through the checkpoints, 48 riders were issued summonses and 15 were given warnings. The department also conducted 44 search and rescue missions last year at a cost of $50,000.
Wilkinson added that the carelessness of others does affect the reputation of the sport. He cited speeding and drunken sledders as problems that need to be addressed. There also are some riders who damage privately owned lands the trails cross. Without the support of local landowners, the sport could be in jeopardy. That is why it is important to respect the surroundings and ride safely, he said.
“This year we’re going to be out there early to get the message out,” he said. “When you see a checkpoint, slow down and follow the warden’s directions.”
Although drunken snowmobilers are not faced with the loss of their driver’s license, they can be fined a minimum of $400 and could be sent to jail depending on the level of intoxication.
“Drunken snowmobilers will not be tolerated,” Wilkinson said.
MSA president Myers said that considering the number of people who ride snowmobiles every winter, the sport had a “surprisingly good” safety record. He added that the trail system is now part of the 911 grid and that the state’s 290 snowmobile clubs have made a major effort to prepare and design the trails for safety.
“The challenge is that snowmobiling is fun,” Myers said. “When we have a big storm, the temptation is to hop on your sled and go.”
Information about snowmobile laws, tips for riding on ice and safety information can be found at http://maine.gov/ifw/. Maine Snowmobile Association information can be found at http://mesnow.com.
On 12/31/08 at 6:12 AM,
RussHermon wrote:
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Thank god Augusta Knows whats best for us
On 12/31/08 at 6:47 AM,
mooseman wrote:
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Well Gov, if snowmobiling is a $300 million a year economic engine why don't you pay the Wardens to do the job that you have tasked them to do instead of having the State Police help. If you put Troopers on the trails then the Wardens are going to have to look for them when they get lost!
On 12/31/08 at 7:39 AM,
freedomfighter wrote:
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When snowmobilers get tired of going through nazi checkpoints to show their paperz, we won't have a snowmobile problem anymore. I know I'm selling mine after 30 years of riding. It's just un-American to have to submit to authorities at checkpoints.
On 12/31/08 at 8:25 AM,
wallyo wrote:
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Are we now going to purchase snowmobiles for the state police too. My God does the spending never end.
On 12/31/08 at 8:30 AM,
StJones wrote:
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We DO NEED some regulation as people are driving like mad men, its getting to the point where its hard to take your family out and just 'cruize' the trails without people going 100mph around or over you!
Shiretown.net - Aroostook County's Discussion Place
On 12/31/08 at 8:40 AM,
SteveyDee wrote:
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My old 1974 motoski 440 with boggie wheels was lucky to do 50 mph. I drove a buddy of mines 700 Polaris. What a rush. You need to zip tie your hands to the handle bars to hold on.
On 12/31/08 at 8:46 AM,
PabMainer wrote:
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stevey I am still riding around on one of those old one lungers....have to use the decompression just to get the thing started....maybe time to come into the 21st century??
On 12/31/08 at 8:48 AM,
LincolnMOM wrote:
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I think snowsleds need stiffer drunk driving laws...I know many people who BAR HOP on snowsleds all through the Presque Isle...Caribou to Fort Kent areas. They think its funny & cool to drive 80 drunk and they feel free....until they hit a tree...or an innocent family out for a drive.
On 12/31/08 at 8:54 AM,
SteveyDee wrote:
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PabMainer, that was my best sled. My first sled was a 1969 motoski single cylinder with a jalo rockwell engine. I think I swapped the engine to a 2 cylinder that you could pull over with out breaking a wrist.
On 12/31/08 at 9:03 AM,
Donny12 wrote:
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For an article that is suppose to promoting safety, why would the BDN show a picture of a person riding a snowmobile without a helmet?
On 12/31/08 at 9:10 AM,
mudboginmainer wrote:
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I love how we keep track every year of how many snowmobile deaths there are. The accidents per mile is alot smaller then that of other transportation. Yet every news outlet jumps right on a snowmobile death and makes it sound like we are the worst people out there. The state police dont need to be on the trails. The snowmobiles themselves govern the trails and if they keep everyone in check it should be fine. Most deaths are cause by out of staters trying to get every mile they can before they leave and most are drinking while doing it. Hopefully we have minimal deaths this year, but there is not need to keep a poster up and add one each time.
On 12/31/08 at 9:21 AM,
evasmith wrote:
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freedom fighter - check the Constitution - it isn't a "right" to drive a sled unchecked on land that you are given permission to be on. The other posters are right - there are a lot of folks driving too fast for conditions and drinking and driving. If I want to take my kid for a ride on my sled, we don't go on the ITS trails, it is just too risky. And mooseman you are right - don't forget this same Gov. is limiting wardens to 60 miles of travel a day (near impossible in the County).
On 12/31/08 at 9:21 AM,
SteveyDee wrote:
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You know what your getting into when you have one of these rigs. If you kill yourself you have no one to blame except yourself.. People think more and more regulation is the answer. LIBS must just sit back and wait for something to regulate. Is there no end?
On 12/31/08 at 9:31 AM,
Lobstarok wrote:
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Why is it you can get a DUI on a boat, golf cart, riding mower, etc. but not a sled? Sounds a bit retarded but that's Augusta
On 12/31/08 at 9:57 AM,
movethen wrote:
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You can get DUI on a sled. It just does not go against your license. Same as DUI in a boat, I think.
On 12/31/08 at 10:00 AM,
SteveyDee wrote:
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I would image you can get one on a sled. Just remember it all depends where you are. If you are on YOUR own land, PRIVATE that is, you can drive your toys around drunk. We had this discussion back when the cops were having a party in Washington County.
On 12/31/08 at 10:13 AM,
SteveyDee wrote:
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A few years back I actually had a warden check my eyes and my speech on day. We were in a canoe with an electric trolling motor and I was the driver. He saw a bunch of empty beer cans on the floor. Key, hide the empties.
On 12/31/08 at 10:39 AM,
Maine62 wrote:
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where's the helmet?
On 12/31/08 at 10:47 AM,
SteveyDee wrote:
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Helmet not required. Operators choice.
On 12/31/08 at 11:05 AM,
JeffEmler wrote:
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That fellow said considering the popularity of snowmobiling he thinks the safety record is good. My question is to what is he comparing? I have noticed that motorcycles are also very popular here in the summer. Does anyone know how motorcycles and snowmobiles compare in terms of accidents and fatalities in Maine?
On 12/31/08 at 11:11 AM,
Lobstarok wrote:
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DUI on a boat will cost your licence, but you can still keep driving a boat-ddduuuuhh
On 12/31/08 at 11:45 AM,
JeffDubay wrote:
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They checked out 2,100 sleds out 100,000 registered, and so all of a sudden, they need to check a higher percent of them or something? Sounds like a revenue-generating scheme from Baldassi.
On 12/31/08 at 12:00 PM,
Pozole wrote:
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Oh great, another article about snowmobile safety with non helmeted operator in picture....
I got thrown into a tree once by something under the snow riding an old one lunger and fortunately only the sled was damaged.
I couldn't imagine trying to navigate in the woods w/a high speed machine and not wear a helmet.
Any info on what percentage of snowmobile deaths are head injuries?
Freezy Riders?
On 12/31/08 at 12:54 PM,
patates wrote:
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SteveyDee- "If you kill yourself you have no one to blame" I agree with you, but that's if you're lucky. What if you kill someone else? Yes, we do need more regulations like making sure the idiot that is pictured wears a helmet.
On 12/31/08 at 10:48 PM,
jelliebellie wrote:
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save the drinking for camp ya idiots ... I think they should impound and sell the sleds of people caught drinking and driving on the trails and use the money to pay the wardens for more time to patrol trails and catch the idiots out there ruining it for all of us ... IDIOTS wake up will ya .
On 12/31/08 at 11:48 PM,
oilfieldhand wrote:
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SteveDee, It was formerly legal do drink and drive on your own property. A law was passed several years ago that gives police the authority to charge you with drunk driving no matter where you are. There is obviously limitations to how and when an officer can enter onto private property but it is possible.
I agree with jelliebellie. If you tack on a mandatory large fine i think that it would not be worth it for people to do it, or at least they would stay in the back forty.
On 1/1/09 at 12:44 AM,
collins327 wrote:
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remember that the state owns a right of way of 4 feet from edge of road.....what if your riding your lawn mower and most everyone i know mows to the edge of road...my dads neighbor got an OUI he was holding a beer riding his lawn mower up and down his lawn done the loop u turn thingy near the road and a cop seen the beer and arrested him for OUI...no priors on his record or anything ....AND in Dedham 2 yrs ago the 70 yr old that was charged with OUI in his electric wheel chair....they told him he could not be riding it on the roads,....they knew him as the town drunk,....and didnt want the chance he woudl be hit well he road on side of road and was arrested..i dont think you can operate a vehicle legally on your own property at all....... drinking....is the last i heard...id be interested in the statue...... I will read it........ tiltle 29 I believe it is
On 1/1/09 at 11:06 AM,
mariahstorm wrote:
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be sure to include a STOP sign so that they can read it from THEIR SIDE of the 'trail'!
On 1/1/09 at 1:53 PM,
fanof48 wrote:
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As a sledder I see the goods and bad in this...there are a lot of people that do bar hop and then hop on high powered sleds and head off to the next bar, primarily up north where the trails allow it. And a lot of the accidents and near misses I've seen are from inexperienced riders on fast sleds. Then you have people like myself who ride according to trail conditions, sometimes fast sometimes slow and don't drink and ride. I don't think DUI checkpoints are bad, but the speed traps aren't taking care of anything but punishing experienced riders who have the skills and ability to ride at high speeds on trails designed for that style of riding. And on some of these trails, 85-90mph is literally comparably challenging to driving a car at 65mph on I-95...these trails are straight, wide, and smooth. The best way I could see to curb the problem and bring the state in more money(which could be used for local clubs and law enforcement on the trails, but wouldn't ha!), would be to require any first time registrants to attend a state approved safety course, just like motorcyclists have to, before they can register their sled. And to take it a step further, maybe put a cc limit on the size engine they can operate for the first two years to limit the number of newbies out on the trail on high horsepower sleds trying to ride like the guy that has the same sled and has been riding for 10 years. Then guys like me and freedomfighter don't have to feel like our privileges are being toyed with as sledders in Maine that have paid a lot of money in registrations fees over the years to be able to ride responsibly.
On 1/2/09 at 9:49 AM,
Sledman wrote:
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Certainly those who are driving recklessly need to be harshly ticketed. However, the practice of setting up markers on trail corners, hiding in the bushes then jumping out to issue tickets for those who cross or hit the markers is entrapment, is absurd & does nothing to fix the problem of recklessness. This practice reduces the enjoyment of snowmobiling & is enough to make me reconsider if I really want to spend thousands on new sled purchases & spend hundreds on resultant state taxes. A better use of wardens time & taxpayer money would be for wardens to strictly enforce OUI laws & to write tickets for recklessness.
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