Please register your sleds as soon as possible. Waiting for the first snow won't save you any money but it could cost the club money. Trust me, or you could just read the note below from NYSSA.

 

NYSSA is working hard to increase trail funding for the upcoming season. In fact, Governor Paterson set the trail budget at $5.3 million but the catch is of course that we need registrations to provide the funding. If you are a NYSSA member who isn't able to make trail work days but still wants to do something to help- get your registrations in the mail to the DMV as soon as you can. November's registration totals will set the timing for snowmobile trail funding grants, so it is very important to NYSSA clubs to get as many snowmobiles registered before Thanksgiving. By registering on-time, you can help the cash flow and keep NYSSA clubs in the black.

Join WHEREVER You Ride
The NYSSA online membership system makes it easy to join additional clubs. As you complete the membership form online, remember to support the clubs wherever you ride. Since the NYSSA membership is not collected when you purchase "secondary" memberships, it costs just $20 for an additional single membership. That small amount can go a long way to help the clubs provide safer trails and a great snowmobile experience. If you have already joined a club, it is just as easy to go online now or during the season and add clubs to your membership. If you regularly ride on trails outside of your home base, make it a point to help out by joining. It is quick- affordable- and the right thing to do.

REGISTRATION
The New York Statewide snowmobile trail system operates on a sled registration system. There is no trail pass required, but all New York State residents and non-residents must register their sleds in New York to ride in New York.

Registration is $100 (one year), commencing from September 1.
Registration is $45 for riders who join a New York State Snowmobile Association Member Club and obtain a registration voucher. Anyone may join a New York Club.
Prior to registering a sled, you must have paid sales tax on your sled, unless you are a non-resident. Non residents are exempt from the New York state sales tax requirement for snowmobiles.
You can register at any Department of Motor Vehicle Office throughout the state. Registration renewals are commonly processed by mail.

WHERE THE MONEY GOES
$10 of the registration fee goes to the Department of Motor Vehicles for their processing effors. The rest of the fee -- $90 or $35, your choice -- goes to the Snowmobile Trail Fund, managed by law by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, where it is distributed through grants to snowmobile clubs, towns, etc. to develop, construct and maintain snowmobile trails and assist with the purchase of grooming equipment. A small portion - generally less than 15% -- is used for snowmobile law enforcement, safety education efforts, and related administrative expenses.

WHERE YOU CAN RIDE
There are 10,500 miles of funded snowmobile trails in New York, and (depending on the snow cover), your registration allows you access to every mile. The only exception is the Old Forge area. You must purchase a separate trail pass for this area, which has elected not to receive any funding from the Trail Fund.
The best way to enjoy snowmobiling in New York is to purchase a trail map from a local club and ride on the groomed and marked trail system where landowner permission has been obtained for everyone, snowmobile laws have been complied with, trails have been maintained, snow has been groomed, and signs are in place. That's where you can ride without concern of breaking the law, irritating a landowner, waking up the baby, damaging forest growth and cropland or disrupting Sunday services.