St. Germain radar run "sting"

[DamageInc]

Insurance is now required on sleds in IL & Wi.

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We rode the fox river in IL and conservation police had a similar check point setup as well. Pretty common practice, and the only people bothered seemed to be the ones with illegal registration/insurance or ones that had been drinking all day.

So you stayed at the checkpoint all day to see who was bothered? ***with your "if you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear" logic. That crap might fly in Commie Illinoise, but not here in WI.

And you are flat wrong about insurance being required in WI. I think a person would be crazy to ride without it, but it's not a law.

“If you love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”

― Samuel Adams

 

[legend02]

Riding a snowmobile anywhere without liability insurance is just plain stupid, you never know what can happen whether the accident is your fault or not if the other party doesn't have it either your totally screwed.

If you have a newer sled without Collision on your policy you are just throwing away money in the long run , I don't about the rest of you but with today's prices of a new sled averaging 10,000 , I couldn't afford to take the loss.

Bought a new sled two weeks ago, called my insurance agent before i left the dealer and got it insured.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[gary_in_neenah]

Funny thing about insurance is we hope we never need it but continue to pay the premiums. But I agree, riding without insurance is never a good idea, too many hazards and too much to lose.

 

[snomoman]

Funny thing about insurance is we hope we never need it but continue to pay the premiums. But I agree, riding without insurance is never a good idea, too many hazards and too much to lose.

Thought I would throw in my 2 cents. Since a few years ago Illinois has required proof of insurance for snowmobiles. Around 4 years ago, 2 of us were riding out west of Rockford all day. When the sun started to set, we headed back to the trailer. On our way back we were literally cut off by a DNR truck with it's lights flashing at a side road. We haven't seen a snowmobile for a least an hour. No idea where he came from.
Then he jumps out & starts running over to us. Okay you got our attention, so we shut off the sleds. He asks for registration & insurance which I give him. He is looking over it like some sort of border agent. Finally he hands it back to me & says my paperwork is in order. Then he asks me if I belong to a club. I say no & ask why. He say's that the club members always have the proper paperwork. I'm sure he was just dying to write me a $500 ticket (for each sled) for no insurance which I'm sure he was doing all day.
The moral to the story is; ALWAYS have paperwork with you to easily provide if needed or get a ticket.

As far as insurance goes,, my insurance company let's me have full coverage only when I am using the snowmobile. I call them, apply full coverage, pay the difference, use it for the season, then call to remove the collision portion. The sled is in storage then. They then send me a refund check. The actual liability portion is about half of the whole policy. That is what I generally pay most of the year. Another point is to have a separate insurance company from your home or auto. May help if a snowmobile claim is to be done. This happened to me. Haven't had any repercussions about it on my home/auto policy as far as a rate increase.

 

[1fujifilm]

The moral to the story is; ALWAYS have paperwork with you to easily provide if needed or get a ticket.

And remember, if you don't have your registration in Gogebic County you get to see the Magistrate at the Valkenvania courthouse.

Bear

 

[shelby369]

Thought I would throw in my 2 cents. Since a few years ago Illinois has required proof of insurance for snowmobiles. Around 4 years ago, 2 of us were riding out west of Rockford all day. When the sun started to set, we headed back to the trailer. On our way back we were literally cut off by a DNR truck with it's lights flashing at a side road. We haven't seen a snowmobile for a least an hour. No idea where he came from.
Then he jumps out & starts running over to us. Okay you got our attention, so we shut off the sleds. He asks for registration & insurance which I give him. He is looking over it like some sort of border agent. Finally he hands it back to me & says my paperwork is in order. Then he asks me if I belong to a club. I say no & ask why. He say's that the club members always have the proper paperwork. I'm sure he was just dying to write me a $500 ticket (for each sled) for no insurance which I'm sure he was doing all day.
The moral to the story is; ALWAYS have paperwork with you to easily provide if needed or get a ticket.

As far as insurance goes,, my insurance company let's me have full coverage only when I am using the snowmobile. I call them, apply full coverage, pay the difference, use it for the season, then call to remove the collision portion. The sled is in storage then. They then send me a refund check. The actual liability portion is about half of the whole policy. That is what I generally pay most of the year. Another point is to have a separate insurance company from your home or auto. May help if a snowmobile claim is to be done. This happened to me. Haven't had any repercussions about it on my home/auto policy as far as a rate increase.

Your doing it wrong, you want liability and physical damage on sled when riding, but when season over, take liability off and collision, you want to keep comp on sled annually ( for fire, theft, vandalism etc,etc,) Comp protects sled for everything other than hitting something..... you don't need liability if sled sitting.

 

[durphee]

So you stayed at the checkpoint all day to see who was bothered? *** with your "if you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear" logic. That crap might fly in Commie Illinoise, but not here in WI.

And you are flat wrong about insurance being required in WI. I think a person would be crazy to ride without it, but it's not a law.

“If you love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”

― Samuel Adams

Sam Adams....love his beer!

 

[sjb]

And remember, if you don't have your registration in Gogebic County you get to see the Magistrate at the Valkenvania courthouse.

Bear

Are you serious? I have been stopped a few times looking for trail pass in the UP and never once asked for proof of insurance.

 

[frnash]

… we were literally cut off by a DNR truck with it's lights flashing at a side road. … Then he jumps out & starts running over to us. … He asks for registration & insurance which I give him. He is looking over it like some sort of border agent. Finally he hands it back to me & says my paperwork is in order. …

… I'm sure he was just dying to write me a $500 ticket (for each sled) for no insurance which I'm sure he was doing all day. …

So you ruined his whole day! I luv it!

… Another point is to have a separate insurance company from your home or auto. May help if a snowmobile claim is to be done. …

Ummm, what's the point to having a separate insurance company for your snowmobile and your home/auto? It's not like they don't all have access to all of your claims record(s), looking for any opportunity/excuse to jack up your premiums. Not so?

---

[I coulda' sworn I posted this yesterday. Perhaps I just did the preview then fergot to actually post it. Duh!]

 

[legend02]

I tried to drop my insurance after the snowmobile seasons few years back I was told by State Farm agent that 75% of yearly premium is for the four months of winter .

 

[1fujifilm]

I tried to drop my insurance after the snowmobile seasons few years back I was told by State Farm agent that 75% of yearly premium is for the four months of winter .

Sad to hear.
As a bit of contrast, as I sell me sled every year and buy new I pay about 20% of the annual cost in the $160 range.

Bear

 

[old abe]

Snowmobiling is dangerous, but there is virtually no danger posed to you by another snowmobiler that is not attributed to the inherit danger of snowmobiling you accept when you ride.

Ride at your own risk.

I have ran this comment, with no names attached, by several snowmobile clubs members, and a state association member. All of whom were totally dismayed, and very concerned with these kind of thoughts. There reaction was that this type of thought does damage to the support of snowmobiling, and state/private trails we enjoy. It also hinders getting a new trail established, or even to keep a existing trail through state, private, or commercial properties.

 

[dothedoo]

I have ran this comment, with no names attached, by several snowmobile clubs members, and a state association member. All of whom were totally dismayed, and very concerned with these kind of thoughts. There reaction was that this type of thought does damage to the support of snowmobiling, and state/private trails we enjoy. It also hinders getting a new trail established, or even to keep a existing trail through state, private, or commercial properties.

LOL!...then you, and they, should stop being involved with snowmobiling, because you have no idea what you're talking about.

My position is based in reality. Snowmobiling is dangerous, and you ride at your own risk. There are no speed limits and no centerlines on the trails.

Your position that we should have checkpoints for insurance (when it's not required), is mis-guided, un-American, and would have ABSOLUTELY ZERO effect on the safety of the sport.

 

[Cirrus_Driver]

LOL!...then you, and they, should stop being involved with snowmobiling, because you have no idea what you're talking about.

My position is based in reality. Snowmobiling is dangerous, and you ride at your own risk. There are no speed limits and no centerlines on the trails.

Your position that we should have checkpoints for insurance (when it's not required), is mis-guided, un-American, and would have ABSOLUTELY ZERO effect on the safety of the sport.

We came a long way from talking about arbitrary DNR checkpoints, to insurance being required for snowmobiles.
That aside, it's tough to find anything to disagree with in this comment.

 

[old abe]

LOL!...then you, and they, should stop being involved with snowmobiling, because you have no idea what you're talking about.

My position is based in reality. Snowmobiling is dangerous, and you ride at your own risk. There are no speed limits and no centerlines on the trails.

Your position that we should have checkpoints for insurance (when it's not required), is mis-guided, un-American, and would have ABSOLUTELY ZERO effect on the safety of the sport.

I have not said that I want, the checkpoint/dragnets. I do realize that they are going to continue to be used, and I have no problem with that. Perhaps you not liking the checkpoint/dragnets, you give up snowmobiling based on reality??? Or, you could do something to put a stop to these burdensome checkpoints??? I have no intent of quitting snowmobiling.

 

[dfattack]

This back and forth stuff normally would be considered "healthy debate", but I'm getting a little tired of reading these threads...so I don't. I saw this one still going on after days so had to check out what it was all about. Whatever, checkpoints, no checkpoints, whatever. They have to do their job. Doesn't matter if we agree with it or not. Just make sure you are good with the trail passes, insurance, etc. I have insurance on each of my sleds. Why wouldn't I?

Can everyone just go out and ride and send back trail reports so people like me who can't be out there due to business reasons can read them? For those of you out riding...can you share with the rest of us your travels, pictures, stories, etc.? Let's see some off trail shots. I don't even ride off trail but I know you guys take pics of getting stuck! Anything but this ongoing never ending debate about stuff (I cleaned that up).

I don't mean to pissy but enough already.

 

[united]

.

 

[old abe]

dfattack; you are right on. I'm out of here. I'm going riding with the granddaughter!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have fun, and be safe!!! I'm like you in enjoying the riding reports.

 

[Cirrus_Driver]

This back and forth stuff normally would be considered "healthy debate", but I'm getting a little tired of reading these threads...so I don't.

I don't mean to pissy but enough already.

 

[snobuilder]

I don't have a problem when misinformation like "you need proof of insurance coverage on the trail in WI" is slapped down....especially when the person who posted this bad information doesn't post a retraction.