The annual Tri-State Snowmobile Reciprocity weekend, where snowmobiles registered in Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire were legal to ride in any of the three states has ended.
NH Reciprocity Laws
New Hampshire’s law (RSA 215-C:47) requires that in order for Vermont or Maine registered snowmobiles to operate in NH with their respective registrations, NH-registered snowmobiles must be allowed to operate in those states during the same time period.
NH must put into its Administrative Rules the exact weekend, which all three states agreed would be the last weekend in January. Once in Rule, it cannot be changed without going through a lengthy legislative process.
The NH’s Administrative Rules were renewed and finalized in July 2018.
Maine and Vermont Change Course
In September Maine and Vermont independently announced that they had changed the date and the way the program is run. These last minute changes, made without any communication with NH Fish & Game or the NHSA, effectively ended Tri-State weekend. Read NHF&G press release.
Cindy Locke, VAST Executive Director, apologized for the sudden change, saying VAST “is really trying to bring in new folks from NY and PA to ride in Vermont, so by offering a free weekend we could extend it to all…”
It appears both Maine and Vermont are attempting to attract additional out of state and Canadian riders with the new program that allows snowmobiles registered in any state or province to ride for free during a specified weekend.
NH Snowmobilers Can Ride Free
The bottom line is NH registered snowmobiles can ride free in Vermont or Maine on February 1-3, 2019. Unfortunately Vermont or Maine riders must register in NH if they wish to ride.
Look for additional details in the next issue of the Sno-Traveler, which will be delivered in mid-November.
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