Registration and Licencing of all ATVs is coming in the Spring of 2012.

By Beverley Felske

Vehicle Registration:

• Registration will be mandatory for ORVs operated on Crown Land, including resource roads.

• Registration applies to current and new ORV owners.

• A clearly visible number plate/decal will help address irresponsible ORV operators, track stolen ORVs, and aide in search and rescue efforts to find lost or injured ORV enthusiasts.

• Reasonable costs will be based on a user-pay approach and comparable to small on-highway vehicles.

• Registration will be one time only at the time you purchase your quad. Current owners will simply take their bill of sale for their quad to their local insurance agency to register.

Safety for Children & adults: Mandatory

• All ORV operators will be required to wear a helmet and, where installed by the manufacturer, seatbelt use will also be requisite for side by side ORVs.

• All ORVs must use lights for low visibility conditions.

• Additional safety rules for youth under 16 years include: adult supervision, appropriate size vehicle for age/weight, and reduced speed limits.

• Equipment exemptions continue to apply to sporting /competitive events.

Safe Highway Crossing:

• Designated highway crossing will make it more convenient for ORV operators to safely cross highways. These optional crossing will help to connect our trail systems.

• At the designated ORV crossing the Motor Vehicle Act requirements continue to apply (e.g. a valid driver’s licence and insurance.)

• A police-issued Operation Permit will continue to be available for incidental road crossing at the non-designated locations.

Protecting the Environment:

• Spark arrestors will be required for ORVs (excluding snowmobiles) to help prevent forest fires and reduce noise disturbance to wildlife, communities and outdoor enthusiasts.

• The Forest and Range Practices Act has already been amended to add penalties for irresponsible ORV operators that damage sensitive habitat, such as wetlands.

Compliance and Environment:

• A provincial compliance and enforcement strategy for ORVs is being developed and includes an education component to help achieve voluntary compliance.

• Government has been working with key stakeholder associations on the development of strategy, which includes exploring more effective enforcement tools to address the few irresponsible ORV operators.

Implementation of the ORV framework was estimated to take approximately two years to ensure that the Insurance Corporation of B.C. has adequate time to upgrade their systems and to ensure a smooth business transition for front-line service providers.

Government will continue to work with key provincial stakeholder associations on the details and the implementation of the ORV framework.

ATV/BC is involved with this procedure having Beverley Felske and Terry Wardrop sit on the Joint Advisery Group to advise government from a stakeholder point of view.

For more information about the ORV framework , please refer to the following website: http://www.tti.gov.bc.ca./tourism/orv