MN thin ice crossing laws

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ezra

Well-known member
I have been reading MN hand books including the one DNR hands out to teach for the safety certificate.
No place can I find that it is Illegal to drive past a thin ice sign.
on the lake around my home the Respect My Authority cops have been out ticketing people for driving past thin ice signs.
lots of channels on this lake and only way is through most channels. a few u can go up and over on road .

Question. is this No driving past thin ice sign a New law or just some made up BS power trip?
and if it is a new law this season can u really be charged if law not posted in any publication or signage?

I have 2 buds who have asked to show them the statuette and 1 pulled out the MN DNR regulation book. and of course then the attitude how dare u question me thing they all seam to have now days comes out.

BTW 2 messages have been left asking the authorities to come to the 2 local sled club meatings this tues and next wend to explane.
will post back if any responce.
 
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A

alwaysright

New member
if on tonka, they have there own set of (cake-eater) rules, The only thing you can do legally there is cross-country ski and snow-shoe.

Seriously though, never heard of a rule like it and can't belive they could ticket you for it, but if you sink a sled that would be a whole different thing.

Cops out there do have a feeling of entitlement, (just like the kids), haha joking of course...well, kinda.
 
X

xf800sp

New member
alwaysright said:
if on tonka, they have there own set of (cake-eater) rules, The only thing you can do legally there is cross-country ski and snow-shoe.

Seriously though, never heard of a rule like it and can't belive they could ticket you for it, but if you sink a sled that would be a whole different thing.

Cops out there do have a feeling of entitlement, (just like the kids), haha joking of course...well, kinda.
Click to expand...

Wow, not a local I take it?
 
M

maximumpsi

Member
To find this rule I had to go from the MN DNR web site to the Hennepin County Water Patrol web site to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District web site. Here's what the LMCD says:

"Barriers Around Thin Ice or Open Water: The Sheriff’s Water Patrol may
(when deemed necessary) place markers, signs, barriers, fences, etc., around
or near thin ice or open water. It is unlawful to disobey such signs, drive or
walk in the forbidden area, or move, remove, deface, or damage such signs."

After several cars fell through the ice in channels this winter, the signs were put up at every channel no matter how thick the ice was. So now, according to the above rule, it is illegal to drive through any channel whether there is thin ice or not.
 
S

skidont

Member
no ice is safe under a bridge In a SUV !! but lets go completely off the deep end on this , sounds like minnesota
 
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POLARISDAN

New member
it started with the idiot that left fletchers with his wife and kid in the car..kids in a friggin car seat..goes thru under greys bridge..culdnt get kid out, now kids dead and hes goin to jail for vehicular cuz he blew over..lose a kid go to jail..dumb dumb dumb..under no bridge on minnetonka is safe

and duh, first rule on ice with vehicle is release seat belts,,geez
 
M

maximumpsi

Member
I had a constructive conversation with the Sheriff's Water Patrol Deputy about this late this afternoon. The channels are legally closed and it is illegal to drive around the thin ice signs. He made the decision to close the channels because people were "screaming at him to close the whole lake" after the 3 deaths from people driving cars through the channels. I pointed out that there are people always looking for a reason to remove ice fishing houses and snowmobiles from the lake. I also politely pointed out that he wasn't cutting down the trees in the woods because people were hitting them with their snowmobiles...

I suggested that his deputies stop ticketing people and instead carry copies of the obscure conservation district rule and educate people instead. I also suggested that they enforce the current laws against water skipping and driving over 25 mph in the channels, but beyond that -- if there is no open water in the channel -- people should be allowed to snowmobile through using their own judgement.

The most constructive part of the conversation was that there apparently are designated "land crossings" that allow snowmobiles to bypass every channel on Lake Minnetonka (which is heavily populated). I suggested that his deputies sign these crossings when they close a channel, and most people would be happy to use them. Probably a project for next season.

Ezra, let's talk and I'll volunteer to help the local snowmobile club get these land crossings on next year's DNR snowmobile maps, get signs up and maybe keep some road shoulders un-plowed if needed.
 
E

ezra

Well-known member
I want them to show me the land crossing under 15 and Seton channel. what about Fletcher's channel?
I cant believe the IDOTS on this lake gave the LMCD so much power the lake levels alone should have them removed from power.
well that and the guy running it lives in Edina an the creek and has never lived on the lake and the only reason the lake cant remain high is he has to have a nice creek flow through his back yard .
BTW watter patrol tickets for sleds do not go on your driving record and they cant and wont enforce collection.
I have 3 outstanding speeds dating back 10 yrs to 3 yrs.
they tell me about them at every DL renewal if I go to pay parking or speeds for cars. I always say yeah that's nice I have no intention of paying them.
they were all in the minnetonka channels when the speed limit was no faster than it took to keep snowmobile momentum moving.
and only a idiot would drive under a bridge at 5mph
 
A

anonomoose

New member
maximumpsi said:
I had a constructive conversation with the Sheriff's Water Patrol Deputy about this late this afternoon. The channels are legally closed and it is illegal to drive around the thin ice signs. He made the decision to close the channels because people were "screaming at him to close the whole lake" after the 3 deaths from people driving cars through the channels. I pointed out that there are people always looking for a reason to remove ice fishing houses and snowmobiles from the lake. I also politely pointed out that he wasn't cutting down the trees in the woods because people were hitting them with their snowmobiles...

I suggested that his deputies stop ticketing people and instead carry copies of the obscure conservation district rule and educate people instead. I also suggested that they enforce the current laws against water skipping and driving over 25 mph in the channels, but beyond that -- if there is no open water in the channel -- people should be allowed to snowmobile through using their own judgement.

The most constructive part of the conversation was that there apparently are designated "land crossings" that allow snowmobiles to bypass every channel on Lake Minnetonka (which is heavily populated). I suggested that his deputies sign these crossings when they close a channel, and most people would be happy to use them. Probably a project for next season.

Ezra, let's talk and I'll volunteer to help the local snowmobile club get these land crossings on next year's DNR snowmobile maps, get signs up and maybe keep some road shoulders un-plowed if needed.
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EZ...this sounds about as good as you are going to get on this one!

Unfortunately, you live in a very liberal state where the rights of others is more important than individual rights and have elected people to positions of power who then enact laws that reflect this mentality. While safety is important, and the folks who enact these laws are well meaning...they need to be issued a copy of the bill of rights...and forced to read it twice....maybe more!
 
E

ezra

Well-known member
POLARISDAN said:
it started with the idiot that left fletchers with his wife and kid in the car..kids in a friggin car seat..goes thru under greys bridge..culdnt get kid out, now kids dead and hes goin to jail for vehicular cuz he blew over..lose a kid go to jail..dumb dumb dumb..under no bridge on minnetonka is safe

and duh, first rule on ice with vehicle is release seat belts,,geez
Click to expand...

on that issue I know the guy who lives on that channel.
he says this guy has been doing this for yrs.
he started after a dui on the way home.U know the danger of pullovers rolling through mound
 
chords

chords

Active member
MN must have the manpower to post thin ice signs and sit back and enforce it and meanwhile riders break the law and live dangerous but live to get a ticket. Can happen in 2 feet of water
 
E

ezra

Well-known member
btw after talking to some neighborhood kids tonight I guess the signs on channels with no land crossings all disappeared at 2;30 when school got out.
man I wish I could ride every day after school with dads gas card.
the high mi kid was 5400mi and has not been on a trailer this yr.
 
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