"Minnesota Responds to Ice Hazards with New Vehicle Limits and Rescue Operations"

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office has imposed new restrictions on motorized vehicles on Upper Red Lake due to unsafe ice conditions, following incidents of fishermen being stranded and breaking through the ice. The order, in line with Minnesota Statute 86B.106, prohibits the use of snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and all motorized vehicles on the ice until further notice, with violations constituting a misdemeanor. The Sheriff's Office will continue to assess the ice conditions to determine when it is safe to lift the restrictions. This decision comes after 122 fishermen were rescued when their ice float detached from the shoreline. Officials urge extreme caution and recommend checking ice thickness frequently.