Subdivision 1. Penalty. Any person who shall violate any provision of sections 84.81 to 84.89 or any rule of the commissioner of natural resources or of the commissioner of public safety promulgated pursuant to law shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Subd. 2. Owner's penalty. A person registered as owner of a snowmobile may be fined not to exceed $300 if a snowmobile bearing the person's registration number is operated contrary to the provisions of sections 84.81 to 84.88, or 97B.091. The registered owner may not be so fined if (a) the snowmobile was reported as stolen to the commissioner or a law enforcement agency at the time of the alleged unlawful act, or if (b) the registered owner demonstrates that the snowmobile either was stolen or was not in use at the time of the alleged unlawful act, or if (c) the registered owner furnishes to law enforcement officers upon request the identity of the person in actual physical control of the snowmobile at the time of such violation. The provisions of this subdivision do not apply to any person who rents or leases a snowmobile if such person keeps a record of the name and address of the person or persons renting or leasing such snowmobile, the registration number thereof, the departure date and time, and expected time of return thereof. Such record shall be preserved for at least six months and shall be prima facie evidence that the person named therein was the operator thereof at the time it was operated contrary to sections 84.81 to 84.88, or 97B.091. The provisions of this subdivision do not prohibit or limit the prosecution of a snowmobile operator for violating any of the sections referred to in this subdivision.

History: 1967 c 876 s 10; 1969 c 1129 art 10 s 2; 1971 c 23 s 10; 1971 c 491 s 3; 1971 c 577 s 10; 1973 c 701 s 2; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 386 art 4 s 14; 1986 c 444