Complete snowmobile safety training now

Now that winter has arrived, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is encouraging snowmobilers to complete safety training.

“If you waited until the snow arrived before taking snowmobile safety training you may be too late to enjoy the season,” said Capt. Mike Hammer, DNR enforcement education program coordinator. “Classes fill quickly, and no snowmobile safety certificate, no snowmobiling.”

Plenty of safety training classes are available right now, he said.

Minnesota residents born after Dec. 31, 1976, must complete a DNR snowmobile safety training course before they can legally ride a snowmobile anywhere in Minnesota, including private land.

By taking a snowmobile safety course, Hammer said students learn about the machine, they learn about the laws, they learn safe operation, they learn the ethics of the sport and they learn how to avoid the most common causes of snowmobile accidents.

DNR snowmobile safety courses can be completed by either attending a snowmobile safety training course from a DNR-certified instructor in a local community or by CD.

To obtain the snowmobile safety training CD, or for general information, call 651-296-6157,
888-646-6367, 800-366-8917, or send email to info.dnr@state.mn.us.
More than 1,800 volunteer instructors teach DNR snowmobile safety courses across the state.

For more information on the dates and locations of these courses, visit the DNR website: www.dnr.state.mn.us (www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/vehicle/snowmobile/index.html) or call
800-366-8917.