viper48
New member
So, before Christmas I got a ticket for riding my sled on a side walk in Prior Lake. I was riding all by myself. The reason I rode on the side walk is because where I live the road to get out of my neighborhood is a large hill that curves to the right as you ride down. There was no snow on the road so I figured it would be safer to be able to turn going down the hill on the sidewalk then take my chances sliding all the way across oncoming traffic on asphalt. The officer did not by my story and did not even give me a warning "obviously not a snowmobiler" because he did not understand not being able to turn on the roadway with no snow or ice for the carbides to cut into. The sidewalk had not even been cleaned by the city yet, but the street was bone dry from all the salt. Should I take my case to the judge or just pay up. I know I am guilty for riding on the sidewalk but I was looking out for my safety at the same time. I was only driving around 10mph also.
The judge will say get bridge-stones...... You can try to plea your case, but you can always stop and lift the rear of sled to go in direction needed.........
Whammy said:
X2 - sorry man, but if the judge is a sledder he may be able to turn his sled on concrete like I do. Get off and push it from the opposite side you're turning at engagement speed. Or he'll say if it was so unsafe why did you leave the driveway.
X3 Pay the fine. SORRY!snomofo said:
SRXSRULE2
New member
viper48 said:
Yea its BS these days. A few years back my house backed on to a farmers field and in that time I rode across the field to get to the main road. If the cops saw me on the road they looked the other way. But now things are so backwards you can't even blink without getting a ticket. Yea okay maybe we shouldn't be on the sidewalk but then again if its not going to endanger anyone (you're going slow) then I can't see a reason for the ticket. I ride in Quebec a lot and they use the back roads off the main streets as snowmobile trails. They have signs that point to the road saying sleds here. Why can't they do that everywhere else?
dirtjumper895
New member
How much was the ticket? And what was it for? I dont ever recall seeing a fine on tickets for "riding on sidewalks". I would pay it if it was less than 100-150 bucks. It would not be worth the effort to me to fight it.
And I thought Prior Lake was snowmobile friendly.The U.S. AIR FORCE NATIONAL SNOWCROSS RACE are held at Canterbury Park, I would talk to the judge. Im bad, Elko Mn this year.
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viper48
New member
Ticket is $135. For me to take a few hours out of my day that I would have use vacation time from work I guess it would be a wash so I might as well pay the darn thing. Prior Lake is so not snowmobile friendly. There is absolutely no riding on main street. So all the bars and restuarants do not get snowmobile business during the winter. On the cities website there is actually a phone number people can call to report snowmobile violations. This is the first year I have tried to ride around the Prior Lake area and it is not worth it to me. It's all ditch riding and it seems cops are always watching the snowmobilers, it's hard to enjoy riding around this area. I mainly ride up around Alexandria and northern Minnesota "Ely" area. I must say I most likely will not bring my sled down here to ride anymore.
I love Prior Lake but the police are a bunch of a-holes and the snowmobile trails are really lame. Just speaking my opinion.
I love Prior Lake but the police are a bunch of a-holes and the snowmobile trails are really lame. Just speaking my opinion.
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journeyman
Active member
viper48 said:
geez I did the same thing about a month ago in the same town. What neighborhood? I have had mine since new and this year was the first I have ridden in our town. I normally ride down at my Dads south of here. I have been on here for years and have never seen you on here. Small world........I agree, the trails are usually beat here. Too much traffic.......
viper48
New member
I live near Lakefront Park, I was riding up the hill right next to the tennis courts on the sidewalk going to the Shell station to get gas.
journeyman said:
Stephfg
New member
I live 2 blocks from an access trail and I leave from home every time I ride. I've never been ticketed or warned. If I did I'd just pay it. But today I was walking by the police station downtown and there were sled tracks leaving their garage and heading to the trail 2 or 3 blocks away. So if I do get stopped this year, I'll bring that up!
99669viper
New member
viper48 said:
Why did you stop?
Tracks probably led right from his house,,,,,,,,, you can run but you cant hide for to long, gets cold out there..........burrrrrrrr hehe.........come home and have the wifeee say they want you to call this #...........99669viper said:Why did you stop?