Section 20 Definitions applicable to Secs. 21 to 35
Section 20. In sections twenty-one to thirty-five, inclusive, the following words shall, unless the context requires otherwise, have the following meanings:—
“Law enforcement officer”, the director, deputy directors of enforcement, chiefs of enforcement, deputy chiefs of enforcement, environmental police officers and deputy environmental police officers of the division of law enforcement, department of fisheries, wildlife and environmental law enforcement, registrar or his authorized agents, police officers, fish and game wardens, members of the state police and city and town police officers or employees of the commonwealth having police powers on public lands.
“Operate”, to ride in or on and control the operation of a snow vehicle or a recreation vehicle.
“Owner”, a person, other than a lien holder, having the property or title to a snow vehicle or to a recreation vehicle entitled to the use or possession thereof.
“Recreation vehicle”, any motor vehicle designed or modified for use over unimproved terrain if used for recreation or pleasure off a public way as defined in chapter ninety, and all legally registered motor vehicles when used off a way, as defined under chapter ninety; provided, however, that for the purpose of vehicles used for agriculture, forestry, lumbering or construction shall be excluded from this definition when used for such purpose, provided, further, that in any complaint brought under this chapter the burden shall be upon the defendant to prove of such use. Any motor vehicle legally registered under chapter ninety will not be subject to registration under this chapter but registration numbers shall be displayed as required by said chapter ninety.
“Snow vehicle”, a motor vehicle designed to travel over ice or snow, having a curb weight of not more than 453 kilograms or 1,000 pounds, driven by track or tracks in contact with the snow or ice and steered by a ski or skis in contact with the snow or ice.