The Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC) coordinates and helps develop and support legislative and lawmaking activities both in Wisconsin and Nationwide.

I have found the Wisconsin Legislature's Who Are My Legislators? type in your address lookup to be very convenient for finding out who your state and federal legislators are. I can never seem to remember the Wisconsin state assembly and senate districts very well.

Additional information is also available through the Wisconsin State Legislature Home page.

I periodically check what is going on with the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board, which sets policy for the Department of Natural Resources and exercises authority and responsibility in accordance with governing statutory provisions.

Advice in administering the Federal Recreational Trails Progams is provided by the Wisconsin State Trails Council, which also advises on planning, acquisition, development, and management of trails in Wisconsin.

Rules and proposed rules or policies of Wisconsin state agencies such as the DNR can be found and researched on this web site: http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov Search on whatever subjects or rules you are interested in.

Many Agencies (such as the DNR) and Boards are subject to regulations found in: The Wisconsin Administrative Code & Register. The Composite Table of Contents is a good starting point. Specific items of interest to the snowmobile community, would include:

To locate your Members of U.S. Legislature:

U.S. House of Representatives: www.house.gov
U.S. Senate: www.senate.gov

Library of Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov This has excellent search capabilities and is easy to use!

The Lake States Resource Alliance is a Multi-Use Public Forest lobbying and legislative support organization.

The Blue Ribbon Coalition also provides lobbying and legislative support. The Sussex Sled Bugs Snowmobile Club is a member.

Hours of Darkness 55 MPH Speed Limit is now Law!

The 55 MPH hours of darkness snowmobile speed limit 2005 Wisconsin Act 209 was signed into law by Governor Jim Doyle March 27, 2006. This establishes a statewide overall maximum speed limit for snowmobiles during the Hours of darkness: the period of time from one-half hour after sunset, until one-half hour before sunrise, and all other times when there is not sufficient natural light to render clearly visible any person or vehicle upon a highway at a distance of 500 feet away.

This is a measured response to the increased deaths last season and will help keep the trails safer as well as make it easier for law enforcement to get some of the 'bad guys' off snowmobiles.

For those confused or misinformed about the term: Hours of Darkness the legal definition can be found in Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 340 Vehicle Definitions, just go to paragraph (23) to see the exact information.

You can see this law's passage by checking the History and status of AB-840.

New Snowmobile Stationary Sound limit is now Law!

The updated sound law 2005 Wisconsin Act 210 was signed into law by Governor Jim Doyle March 27, 2006. This establishes reasonable sound limits for snowmobiles, and a simple stationary test that can be done in the field by law enforcement personnel.

SAE standard test J192 is used as it was previously, to test the overall vehicle noise produced by a snowmobile that is accelerating at full throttle on a flat surface, approximately 50 feet away from the sound meter. The previously existing decibel limits continue to be used.

The new January of 2004 SAE standard test J2567 is used to test the exhaust and engine noise produced by a snowmobile while it is stationary. This test can be performed pretty easily and safely in the field. 1976 and newer snowmobiles have a maximum of 88db, older models have a max. of 90db.

It continues to be against the law to modify a trail used snowmobile in any manner that increases total vehicle noise above that emitted by the snowmobile as originally manufactured, as measured by SAE standard J192

In late 2003, Karl Brooks (former DNR Snowmobile/ ATV Administrator) prepared an early document regarding Stationary Snowmobile Sound Testing. The testing procedure was basically an early draft of the January 2004 SAE Standard J2567. Some of the decibel limits in the document do NOT reflect the current law. It is a Microsoft Word document that can be downloaded LE-40-03 MS Word document.

For those that don't like the virus checking time of an MS Word Document, here it is in LE-40-03 Adobe .pdf 72k 4 pages

Section 3 describes the J2567 stationary test procedure
Section 4 (6) explains about the DNR right to inspect and test with the cooperation of the operator or owner.

Here is a general summary of the Jan. 2004 SAE J2567 stationary test procedure: The sound meter microphone is placed 4 feet above the ground, inline with the exhaust outlet/center point of multiple exhaust outlets, on the side of the snowmobile toward which the exhaust is directed, 4 meters distance from the snowmobile longitudinal centerline. The operator holds the brake during the test, starts and runs the engine up to normal operating temperature, then slowly opens the throttle until a steady 3,750 to 4,000 rpm is achieved for not less than 4 seconds. The test shall be repeated immediately and then the two readings averaged.

You can see this law's passage by checking the History and status of AB-566.

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