Out-of-State Snowmobile Permit & Search Rescue Fee

The snowmobile recreation fund is used to, among other things, establish and maintain snowmobile trails and related facilities. A resident of Colorado who uses a snowmobile on publicly owned land must register the snowmobile and pay a fee, which is deposited in the snowmobile recreation fund. The act replaces a $5 per registration cap with a 17% cap on the amount of the fee that can be used for administration purposes.

The act creates an out-of-state snowmobile permit that an owner or operator of an out-of-state snowmobile must obtain and display to drive the snowmobile on publicly owned land. To get the permit, the owner must pay a fee in an amount set by the parks and wildlife commission.

Exceptions are created for snowmobiles:

• Owned by governments;
• Operated in an organized event authorized by the government with jurisdiction over the land on which the snowmobile is operated; and
• Operated on publicly owned land for nonrecreational purposes.

Concerning the requirement to register a snowmobile, the current exception on private-land commercial use is extended to all private land use by repealing the commercial use element.

The fine for a violation is $100. Permits are valid for one year from October 1 to September 30 and are issued by agents of the director of the division of parks and wildlife.

A search and rescue program pays for backcountry search and rescue operations. Snowmobile and off-highway vehicle registrations require the payment of a search and rescue fee, which entitles the payer of the fee to be covered by the program. The act adds the search and rescue fee to out-of-state snowmobile permits and off-highway use permits.

APPROVED by Governor April 11, 2024

EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)