Officers from the OPP Snow-Vehicle, All Terrain Vehicle and Vessel Enforcement (SAVE) Unit along with North Bay Detachment officers will be patrolling the local snowmobile trails along with roadways to ensure snowmobilers are following the rules of the Highway Traffic Act and Motorized Snow Vehicles Act of Ontario according to a news release.
Officers will focus their enforcement on snowmobilers who are:
- Have installed loud modified exhaust equipment on their snow machine
- Speeding
- Illegally on sidewalks
- Trespassing on private properties in the surrounding communities
The OPP would also like to remind the public about where snowmobile riders can drive, depending on their age and type of driver's licence.
If you are 16 years-of-age and over, with a valid Ontario driver's licence, a Motorized Snowmobile Vehicle Operators Licence (MSVOL) or a snowmobile licence from another jurisdiction:
1. You can drive on snowmobile trails (with Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) trail permit)
2. You can cross a road, where permitted, and
3. You can drive on roadways, where permitted
If you are 12 years-of-age or older with a valid MSVOL or a licence from another jurisdiction:
-You can drive on snowmobile trails only (with OFSC trail permit).
Anyone with no valid Ontario driver's licence, MSVOL or snowmobile licence from another jurisdiction:
-You can only drive on private property (with permission from the land owner).
Anyone under 12 years-of-age:
-You can only drive on private property (with permission from the land owner).
Maximum speed limits:
- Snowmobile trails 50km/h
- Roads where the speed limit is over 50km/h, speed limited to 50km/h
- Roads where the speed limit is 50km/h or less, speed limited to 20km/h
- Any public park or exhibition grounds 20km/h
The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) provides a recreational trail system throughout Ontario. For more information about the OFSC and their trails, visit their website at: www.ofsc.on.ca
