New fees ahead for winter trail users

Effective Oct. 1, snowmobilers and fat bike riders using trails groomed with state money must purchase $18 snowmobile passes every three years.

House Bill 300 was signed into law by Gov. Steve Bullock on Tuesday and was supported by the state parks agency and several outdoors and environmental groups, including the Montana Snowmobile Association.

Snowmobile use in the state has increased significantly throughout the past decade, and the state’s program for grooming trails has not had a budget increase since 2003.

For each permit issued, $1 would pay for enforcement, $2 would stay with the vendor who sold the permit and the remainder would go into a special revenue fund to pay for grooming and grants to organizations that groom trails. Permits could be picked up at gas stations and convenience stores.

Trail users renting snowmobiles would be exempt but must have proof of the rental. Failure to purchase a permit would be punishable by a misdemeanor and a fine between $25 and $100.

The Governor’s Office estimated the measure will bring in $393,930 to the state each year, while costing the state $35,826 to implement it.

Under that scenario, $107,478 would go toward equipment upgrades and purchases and $71,652 would go out as grants to groups that groom trails.