County Clerk Larry Barmore said hundreds of out of state snowmobilers are expected to be in Chautauqua County this weekend thanks to recent heavy snow and cold weather that has resulted in all snowmobile trails being open.

Snowmobilers needing vehicle registration can visit the Mayville DMV from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. tomorrow. Walk-in service will be available.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, snowmobile safety courses continue to be offered, with more than 100 registered classes available. Successful completion of this course results in the issuance of a NYS Snowmobile Safety Certificate.

This certificate is required for youth between ages 10 and 18 to operate a snowmobile, but all riders can benefit from a course that provides fundamental information which everyone needs to ensure the safety of both rider and other trail users.

State Park Police, State Troopers, Environmental Conservation Police Officers, Forest Rangers, and local enforcement agencies enforce State Laws on snowmobile trails, including instances of unsafe or reckless operation, speed limits including the state’s maximum speed of 55 MPH, and operating while intoxicated.

Those rules apply on all local and club trails, as well as the Statewide Trail System, which traverses 45 counties and includes lands under the jurisdiction of New York State, local governments, and many private landowners.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles reminds New Yorkers to register their snowmobiles before hitting the trails. Snowmobile registrations must be renewed annually and may be renewed online on the DMV website.

Recommendations for safe riding include:
– Always wear a DOT- or SNELL-approved helmet and make sure to wear the proper snowmobile gear including bibs, jackets, boots, and gloves.
– Always ride with a buddy or at least one other person.
– Operate at a speed which is safe and prudent for the given conditions.
– Respect landowners, obey posted signs, and stay on the marked trail.
– Frozen bodies of water are not designated trails. If you’re planning to ride on ice, proceed with caution and be aware of potential hazards under the snow. Consider wearing a snowmobile suit with flotation built-in and carry a set of ice picks as a precaution.
– And never drink alcohol or use drugs and ride.

The reminder comes following a snowmobile-vehicle crash that took place Friday night in the town of Chautauqua. According to a recent media release, just after 10 p.m. Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office responded to a crash that involved a personal injury on Stockton-Hartfield Rd.

An investigation determined that 35 year-old Gregory Auge of Sherman was operating a snowmobile and crossing the roadway when he failed to yield the right of way to an east bound vehicle. The snowmobile and vehicle collided causing Auge to be thrown from the snowmobile.

Auge was transported by Mayville Rescue for his injuries and no charges were filed.

Chautauqua County Sheriff Deputies say 25 year-old Mathew Teculver of Panama was operating his snowmobile at about 11:40 p.m. on trail 4F near Conway Rd. when he hit an oncoming snowmobile, operated by 28 year-old William Rick of Union City, Pennsylvania.

Both Teculver and Rick were transported to a local hospital by ambulance. Teculver was pronounced dead on arrival and Rick was last listed in critical condition.

The crash remains under investigation at this time.

On Saturday the Chautauqua County Snowmobile Division received calls that several snowmobiles had become stuck approximately one half mile from the shoreline in the area of Light house Point just south of Mayville.

Authorities attempted to assist with recovery but were able to only recover one snowmobile. The remaining snowmobiles were disabled and became frozen and unable to be removed from the lake during a winter storm.

Authorities say that while there is fairly good ice on the lake in most places, there is also currently heavy snow with deep slush that quickly disables snowmobiles and lake travel is not recommended.

Currently all the Chautauqua County Snowmobile trails are open and in good condition which is the recommended route of travel.

Under county law, any snowmobiler who registers with a snowmobile club will get a discount on their snowmobile registration rate. Often, a snowmobiler would first join an association at the DMV, then register the snowmobile in order to get the discount. Last week, WRFA reported that the state is not allowing the county DMV staff to handle or process snowmobile association information or applications.

However, Sopak says they have found a way to still accommodate snowmobilers who would like to become a member of one of the clubs. She says a member of the snowmobile clubs will be on site every Saturday to accept applications and provide the vouchers, which the snowmobilers can then turn in to receive the discount on their registration.

Although snowmobile association information and registration was previously available in the DMV offices, the state has issued a stern directive that this is no longer acceptable.

County legislator Lori Cornell (D-Jamestown) has already announced her concern with the new law and is reaching out to state officials to ask if they consider allowing the snowmobile club information to once again be allowed in the DMV offices in Mayville, Dunkirk and Jamestown each day that they is open.

Cornell says she will be contacting the Governor and New York State DMV Commissioner Barbara Fiala to ask that the state to ease up on its stance of not allowing promotional items in state offices, and instead help support one of the county’s major wintertime economic drivers.