Imagine snowmobiling south on Hwy 4 (Rice Lake Road) and suddenly coming upon this!!!!! Is it legal to put up a fence across a state hwy ditch?
Gallery
Does this look safe to you?
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says ... on Saturday, Jan 5 at 10:53 PM
Yes it is legal, and it is properly marked.
says ... on Sunday, Jan 6 at 1:13 AM
No, it's not legal, but according to the state regs neither is riding in the inner and upslope portion of the ditch.
says ... on Sunday, Jan 6 at 9:44 PM
I thought there were trails that "recreational vehicles" were supposed to stay on. This gives every snowmobiler a bad name.
says ... on Sunday, Jan 6 at 10:40 PM
Looks like a lawsuit waiting to happen
says ... on Monday, Jan 7 at 2:18 PM
imagine driving down your driveway toward the road and BAM CRASH a "snowmobiler" slams right into the side of your vehicle... this prevents that.
says ... on Tuesday, Jan 8 at 3:21 PM
I drove by today and the fence is down....what happened?
says ... on Wednesday, Jan 9 at 2:24 PM
It's illegal to drive your snowmobile in the ditch, so what would it matter?
says ... on Wednesday, Jan 9 at 2:59 PM
As stated above it IS legal to ride a snomobile if you remain on the opposite slope. Legalities aside, installing a fence in that location is putting people in danger and there is no excuse for it.
says ... on Wednesday, Jan 9 at 3:16 PM
It is NOT illegal to drive your snowmobile in the ditch and outside slope along state and county roads. Check the regs. I was just wondering if it's legal to put a fence up across the ditch.
says ... on Wednesday, Jan 9 at 4:16 PM
it's illegal to drive a "recreational vehicle" in the center or on the inside of a ditch, legal on the outside upslope only. That's in the regs. the fence is legal because it is properly marked. just stay on the trails,that is what they are for.
says ... on Wednesday, Jan 9 at 9:15 PM
dnr jack obviously doesn't work for the dnr or doesn't know the rules. Read page 21 in the MN DNR rules and regulations. Snowmobilers should abide by the MN DNR code of ethics and respect property rights, but with that said "the law is the law"
says ... on Wednesday, Jan 9 at 10:12 PM
The fence appears to be with-in the roadway right of way and "clear zone" area which makes it a potential hazard for errant vehicles as well. The mail box is an approved breakaway mount safe for motorists. Take down the unsafe fence b4 it's to late!
says ... on Wednesday, Jan 30 at 8:59 AM
In my experience, a fence like this just makes riders mad and they will unfortunately probably not respect it. It is legal to ride in ditches (it's how you get to the trails) and if someone was to hit that, the fence owner would face a nice lawsuit.
says ... on Thursday, Feb 21 at 8:44 PM
Isn't the road right of way 33ft from the centerline in both directions,forcing snowmobilers to use opposite bank???-In order to be legal?Just wondering! The fence does look dangerous tho-I wouldn't want to run into it.
says ... on Tuesday, Feb 3 at 6:56 AM
it is, it isn't, it is, it isn't....Are there any pre-law students out there?
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