Snowmobile Accidents Show Need for More Regulation

EDITORIAL - Monday, January 05, 2009 - Recently our City Commission was given the opportunity to adopt a new City ordinance that would allow snowmobiles on all City streets. The rash of snowmobile accidents that have been occurring throughout the area recently proves to me that more regulation and control on these high powered machines needs to be exercised -- not less.

Supporters of the ordinance reasoned that the new law was designed to benefit local citizens who are required to trailer their sleds to the nearest designated trail before they ride. Ironwood Public Safety Director Bob Erspamer admitted that his department didn't have the manpower to adequately enforce locals who ride the sleds on City streets to the nearest trail. Currently, most locals simply hop on their snowmobiles and ignore the law anyway, and most of them safely use the City streets to get from point "A" to point "B" only.

Our City Commission wisely opted not to pass the ordinance as presented to them. I personally think that leaving things the way they are was a very good move. The police don't harass locals that are heading to the trails -- and locals continue to use the streets for that purpose. Without the ordinance, anyone abusing the "privilege" can easily be controlled because it is not legal for them to be on the road in the first place. Anyone zipping back and forth recklessly on a City street can be instantly be nabbed and prosecuted because he is violating the law. If the law allowed him to be there, the IPSD would have to prove that he was driving recklessly or endangering lives in order to control the situation.

This is a clear case of a law, that was meant to correct a situation, that would have simply made things worse. My hat's off to the Ironwood City Commission for wisely deciding not to pass the snowmobiles on City streets ordinance.

Jim Albert