[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Johnstown as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 12-20-2004 by L.L. No. 1-2004]
Terms, words and phrases used in this article shall have the same meaning as such terms, words and phrases have as defined in § 21.05 of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law of the State of New York. As used in this article, Town refers to the Town of Johnstown.
A. 
It shall be lawful to operate a snowmobile on the following Town highways in the Town of Johnstown:
(1) 
Ashler Road.
(2) 
Blood Road.
(3) 
Fancher Road.
(4) 
McGregor Road.
(5) 
Mud Road.
(6) 
Old Peck Hill Road north of the intersection with McGregor Road.
(7) 
Sweet Road.
(8) 
Water Shed Road.
(9) 
West Bush Road.
(10) 
Willie Road.
B. 
Whenever authorized or directed by a state or local police officer, a snowmobile may be operated on any other Town road or on any portion of the highway for the purpose of an emergency, as authorized by Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law § 25.05.
The operation of snowmobiles on designated highways and public ways of the Town shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Article 25 of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law of the State of New York and the rules, regulations, restrictions and conditions set forth herein.
Whenever the operation of a snowmobile is permitted on the shoulder, roadway or inside bank of any Town street or highway, or portion thereof, as provided in this article, the following conditions and restrictions are hereby imposed on all such snowmobile operations, in addition to those requirements set forth in the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law:
A. 
Prohibited operating hours. No person shall operate a snowmobile on any Town highway between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., except that on Fridays and Saturdays, the prohibited hours shall be between 12:00 midnight and 7:00 a.m. No person under the age of 16 years shall operate a snowmobile on any Town highway unless he or she is accompanied by a person over 18 years of age.
B. 
Financial security. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a snowmobile on any Town highway unless the owner or operator of such snowmobile is insured against public liability and carries with him proof of such financial responsibility, such as a certificate of liability insurance of the type, coverage and minimum amount as defined and required of owners and operators of motor vehicles by the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York. Such proof shall be displayed by the owner or operator of any snowmobile upon request to any law enforcement officer or to any person who has suffered or claims to have suffered either personal injury or damage to property as a result of the operation of such snowmobile by such owner or operator.
C. 
Direction of operation. No person shall operate a snowmobile within the street or highway right-of-way of the Town between sunset and sunrise, except on the right side of such way and in the same direction as the highway traffic. Operation in other public places shall be only in the direction, if any, marked by appropriate route direction markers.
D. 
Unattended snowmobiles. It shall be unlawful for any owner or operator to leave or allow a snowmobile to be unattended on any Town highway while the motor is running or with any key for starting the same left in the ignition or elsewhere in said snowmobile.
E. 
Obedience to vehicular traffic controls. Each person operating a snowmobile on any Town highway shall observe strictly all vehicular signs and signals and all other rules and regulations applicable to vehicular traffic and shall obey orders and directions of any state or local police officer or other law enforcement officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic.
No snowmobile shall be operated on any Town highway until such time as the signs and markers for such highway are installed or constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law of the State of New York.
Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this article shall be deemed a violation and the violator shall be liable to a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $50 for a first offense; for a second offense, by a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $100 or by imprisonment of not more than 10 days; and for the third or any subsequent offense within one year, by a fine not to exceed $250 or by imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. In addition to the aforesaid penalties, the Town Board of the Town of Johnstown may institute any proper action, suit or proceeding to prevent, restrain, correct or abate any violation of this article.
The Supervisor of the Town or the Highway Superintendent, and their designees, are hereby authorized at any time to close any street or part thereof in the Town of Johnstown to the operation of snowmobiles, which operation, in the judgment of such official, may constitute a safety or health hazard.