Section 25.24. Operating a snowmobile upon a street, highway, public trails, lands, bodies of water, or private property of another while under the influence of alcohol or drugs  


Latest version.
  • 1. Offenses; criminal penalties. (a) No
      person shall operate a snowmobile upon a street, highway, public trails,
      lands, bodies of water, or private property of another while his or  her
      ability  to  operate  such  snowmobile is impaired by the consumption of
      alcohol. A violation of this subdivision shall be an offense  and  shall
      be  punishable  by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor
      more  than  three  hundred  fifty  dollars,  or  by  imprisonment  in  a
      penitentiary  or  county jail for not more than fifteen days, or by both
      such fine and imprisonment.  A  person  who  operates  a  snowmobile  in
      violation  of  this  subdivision after being convicted of a violation of
      any subdivision of this section within the preceding five years shall be
      punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor  more  than
      fifteen hundred dollars, or by imprisonment of not more than thirty days
      in a penitentiary or county jail or by both such fine and imprisonment.
        (b)  No such person shall operate a snowmobile upon a street, highway,
      public trails, lands, bodies of water, or private  property  of  another
      while  he  or she has .08 of one per centum or more by weight of alcohol
      in his or her blood, breath, urine, or  saliva,  as  determined  by  the
      chemical test made pursuant to the provisions of subdivision six of this
      section.
        (c)  No  person  shall  operate  a  snowmobile upon a street, highway,
      public trails, lands, bodies of water, or private  property  of  another
      while he or she is in an intoxicated condition.
        (d)  No  person  shall  operate  a  snowmobile upon a street, highway,
      public trails, lands, bodies of water, or private  property  of  another
      while  his  or her ability to operate such snowmobile is impaired by the
      use of a drug as defined  by  section  one  hundred  fourteen-a  of  the
      vehicle and traffic law.
        (e)  A  violation  of  paragraph  (b), (c), or (d) of this subdivision
      shall be a misdemeanor and shall be  punishable  by  imprisonment  in  a
      penitentiary  or county jail for not more than ninety days, or by a fine
      of not less than three hundred fifty dollars nor more than five  hundred
      dollars,  or by both such fine and imprisonment. A person who operates a
      snowmobile  in  violation  of  paragraph  (b),  (c),  or  (d)  of   this
      subdivision after having been convicted of a violation of paragraph (b),
      (c),  or  (d)  of  this  subdivision, or of operating a snowmobile while
      intoxicated or while under the influence of drugs, within the  preceding
      ten  years,  shall  be  guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by
      imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not  less  than
      five  hundred  dollars nor more than fifteen hundred dollars, or by both
      such fine and imprisonment.  A  person  who  operates  a  snowmobile  in
      violation of paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of this subdivision after having
      been  twice  convicted  of  a violation of paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of
      this subdivision, or of operating  a  snowmobile  while  intoxicated  or
      under  the  influence of drugs, within the preceding ten years, shall be
      guilty of a class E felony and shall be punished by a fine of  not  less
      than  five  hundred  dollars nor more than five thousand dollars or by a
      period of imprisonment as provided in the penal law,  or  by  both  such
      fine and imprisonment.
        2. Privilege to operate a snowmobile; suspensions. (a) The court shall
      suspend  a  person's privilege to operate a snowmobile and may suspend a
      snowmobile registration for:
        (1) a period of six  months  where  an  operator  is  convicted  of  a
      violation of paragraph (a) of subdivision one of this section;
    
        (2)  a  period  of  twelve  months where an operator is convicted of a
      violation of paragraph (b), (c), or  (d)  of  subdivision  one  of  this
      section;
        (3)  a  period  of twenty-four months where a person is convicted of a
      violation of paragraph (b), (c), or  (d)  of  subdivision  one  of  this
      section  after  having  been  convicted of a violation of paragraph (b),
      (c), or (d) of subdivision  one  of  this  section  or  of  operating  a
      snowmobile  while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs within the
      preceding ten years.
        (b) The court shall report each conviction recorded pursuant  to  this
      section  to  the  commissioner of motor vehicles and the commissioner on
      forms provided by the department of motor vehicles. Such  reports  shall
      include the length of any suspension imposed on the privilege to operate
      a   snowmobile   and   any   suspension  imposed  against  a  snowmobile
      registration. The department of motor vehicles shall maintain  a  record
      of all convictions and suspensions in order to effectuate the provisions
      of this section.
        3.  Operation  of  snowmobile  while  operating  privileges  have been
      suspended. (a) No person shall  operate  a  snowmobile  upon  a  street,
      highway,  public  trails, lands, bodies of water, or private property of
      another while operating privileges have been suspended pursuant to  this
      section.  A  violation  of  the  provisions of this paragraph shall be a
      violation and shall be punishable by a  fine  of  not  less  than  three
      hundred  fifty  dollars  nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars or by
      imprisonment for a period of not more than ninety days, or by both  such
      fine and imprisonment.
        (b) A person who is in violation of the provisions of paragraph (a) of
      this  subdivision,  and in addition is in violation of the provisions of
      any paragraph of subdivision one of this section arising out of the same
      incident, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine  of  not
      less than five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars or by
      a  period  of  imprisonment for a period of not more than one year or by
      both such fine and imprisonment.
        4. Sentencing limitations. Notwithstanding any provision of the  penal
      law,  no  judge  or  magistrate shall impose a sentence of unconditional
      discharge for a violation of paragraph (b), (c), or (d)  of  subdivision
      one of this section nor shall he or she impose a sentence of conditional
      discharge unless such conditional discharge is accompanied by a sentence
      of a fine as provided in this section.
        5.  Arrest  and testing. (a) Arrest. Notwithstanding the provisions of
      section 140.10 of the criminal procedure  law,  a  police  officer  may,
      without  a  warrant,  arrest  a  person,  in  case of a violation of any
      paragraph of subdivision one of  this  section,  if  such  violation  is
      coupled  with an accident or collision in which such person is involved,
      which in fact had been committed, though not  in  the  police  officer's
      presence,  when  he  or  she  has  reasonable  cause to believe that the
      violation was committed  by  such  person.  For  the  purposes  of  this
      subdivision police officer shall also include a peace officer authorized
      to  enforce  the  provisions  of this chapter when the alleged violation
      constitutes a crime.
        (b) Breath test for operators of a snowmobile. Every person  operating
      a  snowmobile  upon  a  street, highway, public trails, lands, bodies of
      water, or private property of another which  has  been  involved  in  an
      accident  or  which is operated in violation of any of the provisions of
      this chapter which regulate the manner in which a snowmobile  is  to  be
      properly operated shall, at the request of a police officer, submit to a
      breath  test  to  be  administered  by  the police officer. If such test
      indicates that such operator has consumed alcohol,  the  police  officer
    
      may request such operator to submit to a chemical test in the manner set
      forth in subdivision six of this section.
        6.  Chemical  tests.  (a)  Any person who operates a snowmobile upon a
      street, highway, public trails,  lands,  bodies  of  water,  or  private
      property  of another shall be requested to consent to a chemical test of
      one or more of the following: breath, blood, urine  or  saliva  for  the
      purpose  of  determining  the  alcoholic  or  drug content of his or her
      blood, provided that such test is administered at  the  direction  of  a
      police  officer:  (1)  having reasonable cause to believe such person to
      have been operating in violation of this subdivision or  paragraph  (a),
      (b), (c), or (d) of subdivision one of this section and within two hours
      after such person has been placed under arrest for any such violation or
      (2) within two hours after a breath test as provided in paragraph (b) of
      subdivision  five  of  this  section  indicates  that  alcohol  has been
      consumed by such person and in accordance with the rules and regulations
      established by the police force of which the officer is a member.
        (b) If such person having been placed under arrest or after  a  breath
      test indicates the presence of alcohol in the person's system and having
      thereafter  been  requested  to  submit to such chemical test and having
      been informed that the person's privilege to operate a snowmobile  shall
      be  immediately suspended for refusal to submit to such chemical test or
      any portion thereof, whether or not the person is found  guilty  of  the
      charge  for  which  such  person  is arrested, refuses to submit to such
      chemical test or any portion thereof, unless  a  court  order  has  been
      granted  pursuant  to  subdivision seven of this section, the test shall
      not be given and a written report of such refusal shall  be  immediately
      made  by  the  police  officer  before  whom such refusal was made. Such
      report may be verified by having the report sworn to, or by affixing  to
      such  report  a  form  notice  that  false  statements  made therein are
      punishable as a class A misdemeanor pursuant to section  210.45  of  the
      penal  law  and  such  form notice together with the subscription of the
      deponent shall constitute a verification of the report.  The  report  of
      the  police  officer  shall set forth reasonable grounds to believe such
      arrested person to have been operating a snowmobile in violation of  any
      paragraph  of  subdivision  one  of  this  section, that such person had
      refused to submit to such chemical test, and that no chemical  test  was
      administered  pursuant  to the requirements of subdivision seven of this
      section. The report shall be presented to the court upon the arraignment
      of the arrested person. The privilege to  operate  a  snowmobile  shall,
      upon  the  basis of such written report, be temporarily suspended by the
      court without notice pending the determination of a hearing as  provided
      herein.  Copies  of  such report must be transmitted by the court to the
      commissioner and the commissioner of motor vehicles and such transmittal
      may not be waived even with the consent of all the parties. Such  report
      shall  be  forwarded  to  the commissioner and the commissioner of motor
      vehicles within forty-eight hours of such arraignment. The  court  shall
      provide  such  person  with  a hearing date schedule, a waiver form, and
      such other information as may be required by the commissioner  of  motor
      vehicles.  If  a  hearing,  as  provided  for  in  paragraph (c) of this
      subdivision, is  waived  by  such  person,  the  commissioner  of  motor
      vehicles   shall   immediately   suspend  the  privilege  to  operate  a
      snowmobile, as of the date of receipt of such waiver in accordance  with
      the provisions of paragraph (d) of this subdivision.
        (c)  Any  person  whose  privilege  to  operate  a snowmobile has been
      suspended pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision is entitled to a
      hearing in accordance with a hearing schedule to be promulgated  by  the
      commissioner  of  motor  vehicles.  If  the department of motor vehicles
      fails to provide for such hearing fifteen days after  the  date  of  the
    
      arraignment   of  the  arrested  person,  the  privilege  to  operate  a
      snowmobile of such person shall be reinstated pending a hearing pursuant
      to this section. The hearing shall be limited to the  following  issues:
      (1)  did  the  police officer have reasonable cause to believe that such
      person had been operating a snowmobile in violation of any paragraph  of
      subdivision  one  of  this  section;  (2)  did the police officer make a
      lawful arrest of such person;  (3)  was  such  person  given  sufficient
      warning,  in  clear and unequivocal language, prior to such refusal that
      such refusal to submit to such chemical test  or  any  portion  thereof,
      would  result  in the immediate suspension of such person's privilege to
      operate a snowmobile whether or not such person is found guilty  of  the
      charge  for which the arrest was made; and (4) did such person refuse to
      submit to such chemical test or any  portion  thereof.  If,  after  such
      hearing,  the  hearing  officer, acting on behalf of the commissioner of
      motor vehicles, finds on any one of said issues  in  the  negative,  the
      hearing  officer shall immediately terminate any suspension arising from
      such refusal. If, after such hearing, the  hearing  officer,  acting  on
      behalf  of the commissioner of motor vehicles finds all of the issues in
      the affirmative, such officer shall immediately suspend the privilege to
      operate a snowmobile in accordance with the provisions of paragraph  (d)
      of  this  subdivision.  A  person who has had the privilege to operate a
      snowmobile  suspended  pursuant  to  this  subdivision  may  appeal  the
      findings  of  the  hearing  officer in accordance with the provisions of
      article three-A of the vehicle and traffic law. Any person may waive the
      right to a hearing under this section. Failure by such person to  appear
      for  the  scheduled  hearing  shall constitute a waiver of such hearing,
      provided, however, that such person may  petition  the  commissioner  of
      motor  vehicles  for  a  new  hearing  which  shall  be  held as soon as
      practicable.
        (d) (1) Any privilege to operate a snowmobile which has been suspended
      pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subdivision shall not be restored  for
      six  months  after  such suspension. However, no such privilege shall be
      restored for at least one year after such suspension in any  case  where
      the  person  has had a prior suspension resulting from refusal to submit
      to a chemical test pursuant to this subdivision, or has  been  convicted
      of  a  violation of any paragraph of subdivision one of this section not
      arising out of the same incident,  within  the  five  years  immediately
      preceding the date of such suspension.
        (2)  Any  person  whose privilege to operate a snowmobile is suspended
      pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision shall also be liable  for
      a civil penalty in the amount of two hundred dollars except that if such
      suspension  is  a  second  or  subsequent  suspension  pursuant  to this
      subdivision issued within a five year period, or such  person  has  been
      convicted  of  a  violation  of any paragraph of subdivision one of this
      section within the past five years not arising out of the same incident,
      the civil penalty shall be in the amount of five  hundred  dollars.  The
      privilege  to  operate a snowmobile shall not be restored to such person
      unless such penalty has been paid. The first one hundred dollars of each
      penalty collected by the department of motor vehicles  pursuant  to  the
      provisions  of  this  subdivision  shall  be paid to the commissioner of
      motor vehicles for deposit to the general fund and the remainder of  all
      such  penalties  shall  be  paid  to the commissioner for deposit in the
      snowmobile trail development and maintenance fund  established  pursuant
      to section ninety-two-n of the state finance law.
        (e)  The  commissioner  of  motor  vehicles  in  consultation with the
      commissioner shall promulgate such  rules  and  regulations  as  may  be
      necessary to effectuate the provisions of this subdivision.
    
        (f)  Evidence  of  a  refusal to submit to such chemical test shall be
      admissible in any trial, proceeding or hearing based upon a violation of
      the provisions of this section, but only upon a showing that the  person
      was  given sufficient warning, in clear and unequivocal language, of the
      effect  of  such  refusal  and  that  the person persisted in his or her
      refusal.
        (g) Upon the request of the person tested, the results  of  such  test
      shall be made available to him or her.
        7.  Compulsory  chemical  tests. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of
      subdivision six of this section, no person  who  operates  a  snowmobile
      upon  a  street,  highway,  public  trails,  lands,  bodies of water, or
      private property of another may refuse to submit to a chemical  test  of
      one  or  more  of the following: breath, blood, urine or saliva, for the
      purpose of determining the alcoholic and/or drug content  of  the  blood
      when  a court order for such chemical test has been issued in accordance
      with the provisions of this subdivision.
        (b) Upon refusal by any person to submit to a  chemical  test  or  any
      portion  thereof  as described in paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the
      test shall not be given unless a police officer or a district  attorney,
      as  defined  in  subdivision  thirty-two of section 1.20 of the criminal
      procedure law, requests and obtains a court order to compel a person  to
      submit  to a chemical test to determine the alcoholic or drug content of
      the person's blood upon a finding of reasonable cause to believe that:
        (1) such person was the operator of a snowmobile and in the course  of
      such  operation  a person other than the operator was killed or suffered
      serious physical injury as defined in section 10.00 of  the  penal  law;
      and
        (2) (i) either such person operated the snowmobile in violation of any
      paragraph of subdivision one of this section, or
        (ii) a breath test administered by a police officer in accordance with
      subdivision  five  of  this  section  indicates  that  alcohol  has been
      consumed by such person; and
        (3) such person has been placed under lawful arrest; and
        (4) such person has refused to  submit  to  a  chemical  test  or  any
      portion   thereof,  requested  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of
      subdivision six of this section or is unable to give consent to  such  a
      test.
        (c)  For  the  purpose of this subdivision "reasonable cause" shall be
      determined by viewing the  totality  of  circumstances  surrounding  the
      incident  which,  when  taken  together,  indicate that the operator was
      operating a snowmobile in violation of any paragraph of subdivision  one
      of this section. Such circumstances may include, but are not limited to:
      evidence  that  the  operator was operating a snowmobile in violation of
      any provision of this chapter which regulates  the  manner  in  which  a
      snowmobile  is  to be properly operated at the time of the incident; any
      visible indication of alcohol or drug consumption or impairment  by  the
      operator;  any  other  evidence  surrounding  the  circumstances  of the
      incident  which  indicates  that  the  operator  has  been  operating  a
      snowmobile  while impaired by the consumption of alcohol or drugs or was
      intoxicated at the time of the incident.
        (d) (1) An application for a court order to  compel  submission  to  a
      chemical  test  or any portion thereof, may be made to any supreme court
      justice, county court judge or district  court  judge  in  the  judicial
      district  in which the incident occurred, or if the incident occurred in
      the city of New York before any supreme court justice or  judge  of  the
      criminal  court  of  the  city  of  New  York.  Such  application may be
      communicated  by  telephone,  radio  or  other   means   of   electronic
      communication, or in person.
    
        (2)  The  applicant  must provide identification by name and title and
      must state the purpose of the communication. Upon being advised that  an
      application for a court order to compel submission to a chemical test is
      being made, the court shall place under oath the applicant and any other
      person  providing  information in support of the application as provided
      in subparagraph three of this paragraph. After being sworn the applicant
      must state that the person from whom the chemical test was requested was
      the operator of a snowmobile and in  the  course  of  such  operation  a
      person,  other  than  the operator, has been killed or seriously injured
      and, based upon the totality of circumstances, there is reasonable cause
      to believe that such person was operating a snowmobile in  violation  of
      any paragraph of subdivision one of this section and, after being placed
      under  lawful arrest such person refused to submit to a chemical test or
      any portion thereof, in accordance with the provisions of  this  section
      or  is unable to give consent to such a test or any portion thereof. The
      applicant must  make  specific  allegations  of  fact  to  support  such
      statement.  Any  other  person  properly  identified  may  present sworn
      allegations of fact in support of the applicant's statement.
        (3) Upon being advised that an oral application for a court  order  to
      compel  a  person to submit to a chemical test is being made, a judge or
      justice shall place under  oath  the  applicant  and  any  other  person
      providing  information in support of the application. Such oath or oaths
      and all of the remaining communication must be recorded, either by means
      of a  voice  recording  device  or  verbatim  stenographic  or  verbatim
      longhand  notes.  If  a voice recording device is used or a stenographic
      record made, the judge must have the record transcribed, certify to  the
      accuracy   of  the  transcription  and  file  the  original  record  and
      transcription with the court within seventy-two hours of the issuance of
      the court order. If the  longhand  notes  are  taken,  the  judge  shall
      subscribe  a copy and file it with the court within twenty-four hours of
      the issuance of the order.
        (4) If the court is satisfied that the requirements for  the  issuance
      of  a  court  order  pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this
      subdivision have been met, it may grant the  application  and  issue  an
      order  requiring  the  accused to submit to a chemical test to determine
      the alcoholic and/or drug content of his or her blood and  ordering  the
      withdrawal  of  a  blood  sample  in  accordance  with the provisions of
      subdivision eight of this section. When a judge or justice determines to
      issue an order to compel submission to a chemical test based on an  oral
      application,   the   applicant  therefor  shall  prepare  the  order  in
      accordance with the instructions of the judge or justice. In  all  cases
      the  order  shall  include the name of the issuing judge or justice, the
      name of the applicant, and the date and time it was issued. It  must  be
      signed  by the judge or justice if issued in person, or by the applicant
      if issued orally.
        (5) Any false statement by an applicant or any other person in support
      of an application for a court order shall subject  such  person  to  the
      offenses  for  perjury set forth in article two hundred ten of the penal
      law.
        (e) An order issued pursuant to the  provisions  of  this  subdivision
      shall  require  that  a  chemical test to determine the alcoholic and/or
      drug  content  of  the  operator's  blood  must  be  administered.   The
      provisions  of  paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subdivision eight of this
      section shall be applicable to any chemical test  administered  pursuant
      to this section.
        (f)  A  defendant  who has been compelled to submit to a chemical test
      pursuant to  the  provisions  of  this  subdivision  may  move  for  the
      suppression  of  such  evidence in accordance with article seven hundred
    
      ten of the criminal procedure law on the  grounds  that  the  order  was
      obtained  and  the  test  administered in violation of the provisions of
      this subdivision or any other applicable law.
        8.  Testing  procedures.  (a)  At the request of a police officer, the
      following persons may withdraw blood for the purpose of determining  the
      alcohol   or  drug  content  therein:  (1)  a  physician,  a  registered
      professional nurse or a registered physician's assistant; or  (2)  under
      the  supervision  and  at  the  direction  of  a  physician:  a  medical
      laboratory technician or medical technologist  as  classified  by  civil
      service;  a  phlebotomist;  an  advanced emergency medical technician as
      certified  by  the  department  of  health,  or  a  medical   laboratory
      technician  or  medical  technologist  employed by a clinical laboratory
      approved under title five of article five of the public health law. This
      limitation shall not apply to the taking of a urine,  saliva  or  breath
      specimen.
        (b)  No person entitled to withdraw blood pursuant to paragraph (a) of
      this subdivision or hospital employing such person and no other employer
      of such person shall be sued or held liable for any act done or  omitted
      in the course of withdrawing blood at the request of a police officer or
      peace  officer  acting pursuant to his or her special duties pursuant to
      this subdivision.
        (c) Any person who may  have  a  cause  of  action  arising  from  the
      withdrawal of blood as aforesaid, for which no personal liability exists
      under  paragraph  (b)  of  this  subdivision,  may  maintain such action
      against the state if the person entitled to withdraw blood  pursuant  to
      paragraph  (a)  of  this  subdivision  acted  at the request of a police
      officer or peace officer acting pursuant to his or her  special  duties,
      employed  by the state, or against the appropriate political subdivision
      of the state if the person acted at the request of a police  officer  or
      peace  officer acting pursuant to his or her special duties, employed by
      a political subdivision of the state.  No  action  shall  be  maintained
      pursuant  to  this  paragraph  unless  notice  of claim is duly filed or
      served in compliance with law.
        (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this  subdivision,  an
      action may be maintained by the state or a political subdivision thereof
      against a person entitled to withdraw blood pursuant to paragraph (a) of
      this  subdivision  or  hospital  employing  such person for whose act or
      omission the state or the political subdivision  has  been  held  liable
      under  this  subdivision  to  recover  damages, not exceeding the amount
      awarded to the claimant, that may have been sustained by  the  state  or
      the  political  subdivision by reason of gross negligence on the part of
      such person entitled to withdraw blood.
        (e) The testimony of any person, other than a physician,  entitled  to
      draw  blood  pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision in respect to
      any such withdrawal of blood made by him  or  her  may  be  received  in
      evidence with the same weight, force and effect as if such withdrawal of
      blood were made by a physician.
        (f)  The provisions of paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this subdivision
      shall also apply with regard to any person employed  by  a  hospital  as
      security  personnel  for  any  act  done  or  omitted  in  the course of
      withdrawing blood at the request of a police officer pursuant to a court
      order in accordance with this subdivision.
        (g) The person tested shall be permitted  to  choose  a  physician  to
      administer  a  chemical  test in addition to the one administered at the
      direction of the police officer.
        9. Chemical test evidence. (a) Upon the trial of any  such  action  or
      proceeding  arising out of actions alleged to have been committed by any
      person arrested for a violation of any paragraph of subdivision  one  of
    
      this section, the court shall admit evidence of the amount of alcohol or
      drugs  in the defendant's blood as shown by a test administered pursuant
      to the provisions of subdivision six or seven of this section.
        (b)  The  following effect shall be given to evidence of blood alcohol
      content, as determined by  such  tests,  of  a  person  arrested  for  a
      violation  of  any  paragraph of subdivision one of this section and who
      was operating a snowmobile:
        (1) evidence that there was .05 of one per centum or less by weight of
      alcohol in such person's blood shall be prima facie  evidence  that  the
      ability  of  such person to operate a snowmobile was not impaired by the
      consumption of alcohol, and that such person was not in  an  intoxicated
      condition.
        (2)  evidence  that there was more than .05 of one per centum but less
      than .07 of one per centum of weight in such  person's  blood  shall  be
      prima  facie  evidence  that  such  person  was  not  in  an intoxicated
      condition, but such evidence shall be relevant evidence but not be given
      prima facie effect, in determining whether the ability of such person to
      operate a snowmobile was impaired by the consumption of alcohol.
        (3) evidence that there was .07 of one per centum  or  more  but  less
      than  .08  of one per centum by weight of alcohol in such person's blood
      shall be prima facie evidence that such person was not in an intoxicated
      condition, but such evidence  shall  be  given  prima  facie  effect  in
      determining  whether  the ability of such person to operate a snowmobile
      was impaired by the consumption of alcohol.
        (c) Evidence of a refusal to submit to a chemical test or any  portion
      thereof shall be admissible in any trial or hearing provided the request
      to  submit  to such a test was made in accordance with the provisions of
      subdivision six of this section.
        10. Limitations. (a) A snowmobile  operator  may  be  convicted  of  a
      violation  of paragraph (a), (b), (c), or (d) of subdivision one of this
      section, notwithstanding that the charge laid before the court alleged a
      violation of paragraph (b), (c), or  (d)  of  subdivision  one  of  this
      section,  and regardless of whether or not such conviction is based on a
      plea of guilty.
        (b) In any case wherein the charge laid before  the  court  alleges  a
      violation  of  paragraph  (b),  (c),  or  (d) of subdivision one of this
      section, any plea of guilty thereafter entered in satisfaction  of  such
      charge  must  include  at least a plea of guilty to the violation of the
      provisions of one of the paragraphs of such subdivision one and no other
      disposition by plea of guilty to any other  charge  in  satisfaction  of
      such  charge  shall  be  authorized;  provided, however, if the district
      attorney upon reviewing  the  available  evidence  determines  that  the
      charge  of  a  violation  of  subdivision  one  of  this  section is not
      warranted, he or she may consent, and the court may allow a  disposition
      by plea of guilty to another charge in satisfaction of such charge.
        11.  Suspension  pending  prosecution. (a) Without notice, pending any
      prosecution, the court may suspend the right  to  operate  a  snowmobile
      where the snowmobile operator has been charged with vehicular assault in
      the  second  degree  or  vehicular  manslaughter in the second degree as
      defined, respectively, in sections 120.03 and 125.12 of the penal law.
        (b) A suspension under this subdivision  shall  occur  no  later  than
      twenty  days after the snowmobile operator's first appearance before the
      court on the charges or at the conclusion of  all  proceedings  required
      for  the  arraignment,  whichever comes first. In order for the court to
      impose such suspension it  must  find  that  the  accusatory  instrument
      conforms to the requirements of section 100.40 of the criminal procedure
      law  and  there  exists  reasonable  cause  to  believe that the accused
      operated a snowmobile in violation of section 120.03 or  125.12  of  the
    
      penal law. At such time the operator shall be entitled to an opportunity
      to  make  a  statement  regarding  the  enumerated issues and to present
      evidence tending to rebut the court's findings. Where such suspension is
      imposed  upon  such  pending  charge  and  the  operator has requested a
      hearing pursuant to article one hundred eighty of the criminal procedure
      law, the court shall conduct such hearing. If  upon  completion  of  the
      hearing,  the  court  fails  to  find  that there is reasonable cause to
      believe that the operator committed a felony  under  section  120.03  or
      125.12  of  the penal law the court shall promptly direct restoration of
      such  operating  privileges  to  the  operator  unless  such   operating
      privileges  are  suspended or revoked pursuant to any other provision of
      this chapter.
        12. Snowmobile safety course. Upon the conviction of  any  subdivision
      of  this  section,  the  court shall, in addition to any other penalties
      invoked under this section, require the convicted person, as a condition
      of the sentence, to complete a snowmobile safety course approved by  the
      commissioner  and  show proof of successful completion of such course to
      the court or its designee.