(MIDLAND,ON) – Members of the Southern Georgian Bay OPP detachment snowmobile patrol unit stop many hundreds of snowmobiles and speak with the drivers throughout the snow covered sections of North Simcoe every year. Officers ask many questions of the sled operators but they too ask back a lot of questions about the rules and regulations of being out on the trails.
Today’s on the trail question was, how old does a person need to be or what licence is required to operate a snowmobile across a roadway or highway?
A view online at the following link https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90m44 provides the following and ultimately the answer.
One must look at the definitions. A “highway” includes a common and public highway, street, avenue, parkway, driveway, square, place, bridge, viaduct or trestle, designed and intended for, or used by, the general public for the passage of vehicles.
Every road that we have in our area is defined under this act as a Highway.
“serviced roadway” means the part of highway that is improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic, and includes the ploughed portion of the shoulder, and, where a highway includes two or more separate serviced roadways, the term “serviced roadway” refers to any one serviced roadway separately and not to all of the serviced roadways collectively; (“chaussée entretenue”)
Serviced roadways are highways.
Driving along highway
9 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall drive a motorized snow vehicle along a highway unless,
(a) the person has attained the full age of sixteen years; and
(b) the person holds a driver’s licence; or
(c) the person holds a motorized snow vehicle operator’s licence; or
(d) the person is a resident of any other province, country or state and holds a licence issued by such province, country or state which authorizes the person to drive a motorized snow vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 9 (1).
Driving across highway
(2) No person shall drive a motorized snow vehicle across a highway unless,
(a) the person has attained the full age of sixteen years; and
(b) the person holds a driver’s licence, a motorized snow vehicle operator’s licence or is a resident of any other province, country or state and holds a licence issued by such province, country or state which authorizes the person to drive a motorized snow vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 9 (2).
Driving on trails
(3) No person shall drive a motorized snow vehicle upon a trail unless,
(a) the person has obtained the full age of twelve years; and
(b) the person holds a driver’s licence, a motorized snow vehicle operator’s licence or is a resident of any other province, country or state and holds a licence issued by such province, country or state which authorizes the person to drive a motorized snow vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 9 (3).
The answer is a person who has attained the age of 12 years and who holds an issued Ontario Snowmobile licence can drive on an OFSC trail but must have a driver who has attained the age of 16 years and possesses an Ontario Snowmobile Licence can lawfully drive the snowmobile across or along a roadway/highway as defined by the Motorized Snow Vehicle Act (MSVA).
An operator with an Ontario Drivers Licence or equivalent class G!, G2 better can drive a snowmobile across or on a roadway/highway.
With a balance between rider education and enforcement in mind, officers deal with issues found on the trails on a daily basis under some extreme weather conditions and welcome your cooperation on the many trails here in North Simcoe
Snowmobiling is a wonderful sport for most family members to enjoy the great outdoors, but sadly we have to attend incidents involving snowmobiles being operated by persons who are suspected of being impaired, or operating carelessly and are tasked with an investigation that will have long lasting effects on all involved, victims and emergency services personnel.
- Ride in control and to the trail conditions
- Obey the posted speed limit.
- Never, ever drive impaired
- No Ice is Safe Ice
Snowmobilers planning to head out on the OFSC trail system this weekend would be well advised to check on the following website link to ensure the trail is open for use – Snowmobiling Ontario
It also goes without saying that it is still early in the cold weather winter season for local ice conditions to be up to expectations for ice surface travel by foot or by machine. Always remember that, “No Ice Is Safe Ice” and to check the ice surface or inquire with local residents, ice hut operators, weather stations or any other reliable source before heading out and possibly going through into the frigid waters below. Ultimately, you may be risking your life, the lives of others possibly with you and that of emergency service responders tasked to rescue you, or worse to locate and remove you from the lake.
All drivers /riders/operators should be aware that the O.P.P. R.I.D.E. program checks are conducted 24/7 all year long. The OPP remains committed to taking alcohol/drug-impaired drivers off our roads & trails through enforcement and public education so riders can expect to see OPP officers on the trail system during day time & night time hours. Also, it can be expected that uniform road patrol officers will be conducting Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E.) programs at trail heads. The Detachment also works with area safety partners such as MADD Canada, Arrive Alive, The North Simcoe Safe and Sober Awareness Committee and area snowmobile clubs, Georgian Bay Snow Riders (GBSR) and the Baxter Snow Riders (BSR) and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC).
The sport of snowmobiling has many associated inherent risks, dangers and hazards caused by the changing terrain & environment, your machine, and others on their machines to name a few. To help reduce these risks, riders are reminded to always check the Interactive Trail Guide before heading on the trails and wear all of the required safety equipment including floater suits if travelling on frozen water surfaces. It is highly recommended to have a fully charged cell phone with you, let a family member know where your heading to and a return time, load a location app on your cell phone such as What3Words and/or the Interactive Trail Guide and remember that “No Ice Is Safe Ice” . Self rescue maybe your only way out for reasons depicted in the following link – https://twitter.com/OPP_News/status/1342817627077488641
