In an attempt to address serious needs of safety and stewardship, British Columbia's Ministry of Forest Lands and Natural Resource Operations released Bill 13, the off road vehicle act, February 24, 2014. What this means for the estimated 200,000 ORV owners throughout B.C. is a one-time registration fee tying their unit into a provincial ICBC registry.
The knee-jerk reaction of some is “No way will I be part of a database for The Man to watch over me.”
Paranoia and skepticism are common among people who enjoy powersports, as ORV enthusiasts are used to the threat of land closure and restrictions impeding recreation. This isn’t one of those situations. Powersports are here to stay, especially if built upon a foundation of safe operation and environmental responsibility.
Theft prevention is a big plus when you have a data registry, sending a very clear message of accountability to would-be thieves: You will be caught.
Maximum fines for infractions are being raised from $500 to $5000 in an attempt to deter poor behaviour. As more riders venture into the backcountry, we must ensure a strong sense of responsibility when it comes to stewardship and environmental sensitivity. Most backcountry riders are responsible and tread lightly; however, as with any activity there is always the potential for a small handful of bad apples in the mix. Watch out, Rotten Apples: it doesn’t look promising for your hooliganism. Having a clearly displayed registration number means you will get caught if you choose to ride irresponsibly.
Jeff Mohr, the enthusiastic president of ATVBC, is very pleased with this tabled legislation.
“This is an incredible time of change for motorized recreation," said Mohr. "This off road vehicle act focuses on the right things and will help to preserve our sport for generations to come.”
ATVBC has received mostly positive feedback as education surrounding the bill circulates. There are still some details to be resolved, but all in all this is very good for the province and motorized recreation.
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