Starting Nov. 1, the B.C. Liberal government has made off-road vehicle (ORV) registration and safety provisions mandatory on Crown land effective after passing regulations in the Off-Road Vehicle Act.
It requires mandatory ORV registration, helmet use by all riders and restrictions on use by children under 16 years.
Noting numerous ORV clubs have been asking for the changes, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett says she has been working on the changes for a long time and she is completely in favour of them.
"A minor group of people in the province are upset because they feel [mandatory registration] is a cash grab, but it's not. It's there so you register [ORVs] once and not every year.
"You register once for $48 and you can get a licence plate or a sticker – that was an issue for owners of some motorbikes and snowmobiles because they wouldn't fit on them, so now they can use a sticker instead."
She explains the funds from the registration just cover the cost of the program, so it's not a "cash grab, and I would be the first one to complain if it was."
The registration of ORVs was put in place to combat theft, Barnett says, adding the identification will be readily available for COs and the RCMP when they're monitoring activity in the backcountry or when they receive information about a theft.
"It's also there for the one per cent of the population that continually goes into eco-sensitive areas with four-wheel vehicles and trucks. They go where they're not supposed go, including private land.
"So, hopefully, people will stop doing it because the fines are increased for abusers."
Now, operators can get a $230 fine for driving an unlicensed ORV, and a $368 fine for careless operation. For reckless use or environmental damage, penalties can go up to $5,000 fines and six months in jail.
Meanwhile, Barnett says there could be discussion about the changes in the future because there are pieces of the legislation she and other people are not happy about.
She notes ranchers can license their tractors and drive it down the side of the road from point A to point B, but with the new ORV legislation, they would have to get a permit from the RCMP to drive their ORV on the same route.
This is also the case for snowmobilers who want to ride from one RCMP jurisdiction to another one, Barnett says, adding they would have to get a permit from both RCMP detachments to be legal.
"As far as I'm concerned on the permit issue, if you have a B.C. driver's licence, ICBC insurance and adequate liability insurance and you're obeying all of the safety regulations, it makes no sense. It's just another piece of red tape."
She adds there are a couple of other issues she is working on, including more funding for trails.
Operating standards
• Helmets must be worn when operating an ORV. For standards of acceptable helmets, see section 22 of the OVR regulation at www.bclaws.ca (Off-Road Vehicle Act).
• If a manufacturer has installed seat belts, then the seat belt must be worn during the operation of that vehicle.
• ORVs must use lights during low visibility conditions when riding on Crown land 30 minutes after sunset or 30 minutes before sunrise. If lights are not installed by the manufacturer, temporary lights can be attached to the ORV. For details on light standards, see section 24 of the OVR regulation.
• Children must be supervised when riding on Crown land and be riding an appropriate sized ORV as recommended by the manufacturer. For details, see sections 16-18 of the OVR regulation.
The ORV registration is integrated within the pre-existing structure of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia's (ICBC) motor vehicle registry. This will reduce implementation costs and allows ORV owners to register at any of the ICBC insurance brokers in the province.
Owners who already secured an ORV number plate during voluntary registration can – between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 2015 – bring their registration and metal plate to any ICBC broker and exchange their metal plate for a sticker for no charge.
After Dec. 31, 2015, an $18 fee will apply to exchange a metal plate for a sticker or vice versa.
Furthermore, snowmobile owners who have already registered their vehicles under the Motor Vehicle (All Terrain) Act will be eligible for refund, up until Nov. 16, 2015, when they register under the ORV Act.
The refund will be for the amount they had already paid – $5 for transfers and $10 for registration.
For more detailed information on the new ORV regulations, go to https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/orv/.