Montana and Idaho Trail permit fines.

[08RMK600]

I talked to a out of state guy who said he got caught without trail permits recently in both states and said the fine was 150 each for not having proper trail stickers? that seemed high to me.. just wondering if anybody knew what the actual fine is? plus I would think they would give you a warning first ?? any body have any experiences with this?

 

[Scott]

Where was he riding?
Was he off the groomed trail?

 

[08RMK600]

yeah mostly off trail but took trails to his spots i guess.. I told him buyin the 15 dollar sticker is alot cheaper then taking that chance...

 

[Scott]

What location? Lolo? Lookout? Yellowstone?

Montana and Idaho have reciprocity laws if you stay on the groomed trails.

 

[08RMK600]

Just around west yellowstone. and Island park.. reciprocity? you only have to buy one permit to ride trails only?

 

[Blu Du]

there about 58 for both. we didn't buy them right away because we where told they were giving warnings and you have 5 days to buy them. plus they wern't grooming the trails either

 

[fuzz]

Montana's Non-resident snowmobile sticker is $25. According to MCA laws the fine can be up to $100 but they may tack on court costs. Dont know about any grace period, may depend on the CS fish cop but they dont have much sense of humor. Buy a sticker, cheap insurance.

 

[08RMK600]

are they a trail sticker ? so if you ride mainly back country do you really need one?

 

[youd47]

Rode down in Island park ( on Mount Jefferson) Last weekend and had members of our group get ticketed for not having Montana stickers. Two of the group were at least 6 miles into Idaho sitting on the groomed trail. Snowrangers said they saw them in Montana earlier in the day. It sure breeds hate of the govt having bullies like that running around.


I think once a year these public servents should write a thank you note to everyone of us for providing them with a job. Everyone who gets a govt paycheck works for the taxpayers.

 

[08RMK600]

not cool... what was the fine?? I just think it sux commin from mn bringing revenue to the states of MT and ID plus have to pay 10 dollars a day for doing that .. (we only ride 3 days a year out there _60 dollar worth of stickers) I understand the revenue part of the trail system..this that and datt. but its probably pushing business out of sport of sledding west in a soft economy. ppl wanna go out there for as cheap as possible.. thats why all hotels are renting rooms at 59 bucks.. I have never seen that b4

 

[800Cat]

We don't have to have permits for our cars and pickups to travel from state to state so why should snowmobile be any different? License them in one state and be done with it. I think thats only fair? Just my .02 cents

 

[Blu Du]

in mn if we want to ride trail we have to buy a trail pass.

 

[jthussey]

Last year I got nailed in Idaho. I was in Black Canyon and when I left the canyon to hit the trail, I got nailed. 1/2 mile into idaho and the ticket was $100.00

 

[molester]

buy the stickers or stay home.. quit whining...

 

[jthussey]

buy the stickers or stay home.. quit whining...

I don't think anyone is whining. I just answered a guys question. Like Scott said, I was told years back that there is reciprocity law with idaho and montana. I got caught after many years and paid the fine(thought I was legal but learned I wasn't). And my fine was $100.00. I now ride with both stickers even though i do 95% of my riding in montana.

 

[skidoorulz]

I beleive Montana has recipricity with any state that lets Montana sleds ride in their state without having to buy non resident trail permits. Now if you are from Minnesota and do not have recipricity with MT or ID then you need to buy a non resident permit for both states if you ride in both states. One or the other will not work in one or the other state. Thes nonresident permit fees go 100% to trail grooming and maintanance in the state. It was first implemented in this neck of the woods by Wyoming. And if you came into Wyoming from another state you had to buy a permit regardless of whether your state made Wyoming riders buy a permit or not. Wyoming had no recipricity. After a few years other states started a non resident permit program. And I beleive another reason for these non resident permits was because of the huge influx of riders coming out west from the midwest due to low or no snow conditions over the last 2 decades. Our trails were getting hammered and the funds were not there to groom them with such a huge increase in use. F&G looked for ways to fund it and I beleive Wyoming came up with the best plan. The gas tax thing was not a good way cause it would have been a book keeping nightmare trying to figure out exactly how much gas was purchased in the state for snowmobiles. As far as automobiles being able to drive in every state without permits, it is because the feds have their tax on every gallon of fuel bought in this country and the taxes are allocated to all states for road construction and maintanance. You also pay a state tax when you buy gas in that state and that tax money goes to roads. So in a nutshell if you are from Montana and buy gas in Wyoming or anyother state you are payinf a fee to drive on their roads but you just never think about it.

Sorry this was so long but I always seem to have alot to say