Off-road vehicle regulations would be good for everybody, MLA says

Backcountry recreationalists have no reason to fear pending Off Road Vehicle legislation planned by Victoria, says Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett.

Bennett, who’s also Minister of Community and Rural Development, says he doesn’t think there will be a backlash against the new regulations which will apply to all off-road vehicles including quads, dirt bikes, all-terrain-vehicles (ATV’s) and snowmobiles.

“I’m not worried about it. I know it’s going to happen. I know that all of us, myself included, resent Big Brother intruding into our lives. The East Kootenay is the home of independent thinking people in British Columbia.

“I know there will be people that will say ‘I’m not going to register my quad.’ But over time, I hope they will understand that this is for their benefit.”

Bennett, a quad rider himself, says off road vehicle operators will have to learn to live with the new rules being handed down by Victoria. “If we don’t control and manage appropriately our sport and recreation, we will lose the right to go many places on Crown land. It’s as simple as that.”

B.C. is one of the only jurisdictions in North America that doesn’t require licensing and registration of off road vehicles, but Bennett made it clear that those days are coming to an end.

The great majority of ATV riders are responsible “but we can control the five per cent of users that are responsible for the environmental damage,” he says.

Under the legislation being considered by Victoria, all off-road drivers using Crown land will require one-time registration with a licence plate for their machines, in addition to wearing helmets and using lights at night. Age-appropriate safety measures and adult supervision will be required for young riders.

All ORV’s will require registration and licensing at time of sale and re-sale. New standards for mufflers will minimize the noise impact on wildlife and spark arrestors will reduce the risk of forest fires. Additional measures to connect communities and trail networks will mean licensed ORV riders will be able to cross public roads more conveniently with an annual vehicle licence and basic insurance.

“This initiative, in part, is about allowing law enforcement officials to track stolen ORV's, something almost impossible today. It is absolutely not about taking away anyone's safe, responsible fun,” said Bennett. “I own a quad, and I know this is the right thing to do. Recreationalists have lots of fun riding their ORV’s in Ontario and Quebec with a similar system and it will work well here in B.C. too.”

ORV clubs and associations across the province support Victoria’s move. Many feel the government has fallen behind in regulating the fast growing sport that’s often blamed for causing environmental damage in wet lands and tearing up hillsides in dry areas along the Koocanusa Reservoir and other dry areas in the province.

“The requirement to display a licence plate on ORV’s will make it possible for conservation officers, park rangers and law enforcement agencies to identify those who are damaging sensitive habitat or harassing wildlife, so they can be held accountable,” said Environment Minister Barry Penner. “It will also give members of the public a way to help us by calling our toll-free 1-877-952-RAPP (7277) line to report licence plate numbers of irresponsible operators.”

“For over 30 years, we’ve known that B.C. has lagged behind when it comes to ORV regulations, to the detriment of personal safety, environmental responsibility, tourism potential and enhancement of ORV sport,” said Bruno Delesalle, co-chair of the ORV Coalition, also the executive director for the Grasslands Conservation Council.

“The coalition is pleased that the provincial government, after receiving 47 recommendations from coalition stakeholders, is taking action with the implementation of expanded regulations for all ORV’s.”

Bennett said it will probably take two years before the new rules come into effect. No decision has been made yet on how much the licensing and registration fees will cost or whether out-of-province riders will be charged more, he said. This could be an important issue in the East Kootenay which is one of the most popular areas in the province for off-road riding and sledding with many of the recreationalists coming from Alberta.

Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, says the new rules represent a “collaborative approach” to managing off-road recreation. “I am pleased to announce a new ORV Management Framework. This enhancement will facilitate safety, accountability and enjoyment of Off-Road Vehicles in B.C.”

Enforcement of the new rules will be through education, voluntary compliance and peer pressure by the numerous ORV Clubs in the province, according to a press release backgrounder issued by Victoria. Bennett says this should be enough.

“I don’t think that many people that misbehave. But for the ones that do, there’s going to be fines, they’re going to have their machines seized and that’s going to spread like wildfire.

“It’s not going to take long for people to say ‘I’m going to stay on the trails’ and not go where I know I’m not supposed to be going.”

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