Required Equipment

The equipment required for snowmobiling in Michigan includes:

• Safety helmet: A person operating or riding on a snowmobile must wear a safety helmet approved by the United States Department of Transportation. This does not apply to a person riding or operating on his or her own private property.
• Lights: A snowmobile must display a lighted headlight and taillight at all times. It is illegal to cover your headlight with any type of colored cover.
• Brakes: Brakes must be capable of stopping within 40 feet when traveling at 20 mph while carrying an operator weighing 175 pounds or more on packed snow.
• Muffler: A snowmobile may not be operated without suitable and effective muffling devices. When measured on the A scale at a distance of 50 feet, the muffler must limit engine noise while at full throttle to:
  • No more than 88 decibels for models manufactured before July 1, 1977, or…
  • No more than 78 decibels for models manufactured after July 1, 1977.