New York Laws
Article 25 - Control Provisions
25.17 - Equipment.

(a) Head lights. At least one white or amber head-lamp having a
minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and
vehicles at a distance of at least one hundred feet ahead during hours
of darkness under normal atmospheric conditions.
(b) Tail light. At least one red tail-lamp having a minimum
candlepower of sufficient intensity to exhibit a red light plainly
visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear during hours of
darkness under normal atmospheric conditions.
(c) Brakes. A brake system in good mechanical condition.
(d) Reflector material. Reflector material of a minimum area of
sixteen square inches mounted on each side of the cowling. Registration
numbers must be reflectorized, and such numbers or decorative material
may be included in computing the required sixteen square inch area.
(e) Mufflers. An adequate muffler system in good working condition. On
and after June first, nineteen seventy-two, no snowmobile manufactured
after June first, nineteen seventy-two shall be sold or offered for sale
unless it is equipped in such a way as to limit noise produced by the
snowmobile to not more than eighty-two decibels as measured on the "A"
scale at fifty feet. On and after June first, nineteen seventy-five, no
such snowmobile manufactured after June first, nineteen seventy-five
shall be sold or offered for sale unless it is equipped in such a way as
to limit noise produced by the snowmobile to not more than seventy-eight
decibels on such scale. On and after June first, nineteen eighty, no
such snowmobile manufactured after June first, nineteen eighty, shall be
sold or offered for sale unless it is equipped in such a way as to limit
noise produced by the snowmobile to not more than seventy-three decibels
on such scale. On or after November first, two thousand thirteen, a
person shall not operate a snowmobile unless the snowmobile is equipped
with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation from
which noise emission does not exceed either seventy-eight decibels at
fifty feet at full throttle, as measured using a generally accepted test
for a snowmobile manufactured after July first, nineteen hundred
seventy-seven and sold or offered for sale in this state, or
eighty-eight decibels, as measured at four meters from an inline
position from the exhaust and four thousand rpm using a generally
accepted test for using a stationary snowmobile manufactured after July
first, nineteen hundred eighty and sold or offered for sale in this
state. Should the federal government adopt snowmobile noise level
standards different from those contained in this paragraph and require
that the state conform thereto, the commissioner shall be authorized to
adopt rules and regulations superseding the noise level requirements of
this paragraph to achieve compliance with federal standards. No
snowmobile shall be modified by any person in any manner that shall
amplify or otherwise increase total noise emission to a level greater
than that emitted by the snowmobile as originally constructed,
regardless of date of manufacture.
2. Inspection and testing. The commissioner may adopt rules and
regulations with respect to the inspection and testing of snowmobiles.
3. No person shall have for sale, sell or offer for sale in this state
any snowmobile which fails to comply with the provisions of subdivision
one, or which does not comply with the specifications for such equipment
required by the rules and regulations of the commissioner after the
effective date of such rules and regulations.
4. No person shall operate an authorized ambulance, police or civil
defense snowmobile as an emergency vehicle unless it is equipped with
one or more lighted, red or combination red or white lights which is

revolving, rotating, flashing, oscillating or constantly moving light
having a minimum candle power of sufficient intensity to be plainly
visible from a distance of five hundred feet in all directions under
normal atmospheric conditions.
5. No person shall operate a snowmobile or ride as a passenger on a
snowmobile unless he or she is wearing a protective helmet of a type
approved by the commissioner, except when operating a snowmobile or
riding as a passenger on private lands owned by the operator or
passenger, or to which the operator or passenger has a contractual right
other than as a member of a club or association, and for which no
compensation is paid to the owner with respect to such operation.