Do you own one or more of the estimated 200,000 off-road vehicles (ORVs) in British Columbia?
Effective November 17, owners can register their ORVs with ICBC for a one-time fee of $48. This includes ATVs, snowmobiles, and dirt bikes.
Although the rules are currently voluntary, they will become mandatory on June 1, 2015. Snowmobile registrations have been required since the 1970s.
The new rules have been introduced to support BC’s Off-Road Vehicle Management Framework, an initiative created to combat vehicle theft and promote the safe and environmental use of ORVs.
“The BC Snowmobile Federation along with its other power sports partners invested a lot of volunteer time, effort and expense in working with the government on this initiative,” says Erin Hart, president of the BC Snowmobile Federation in a Government of BC Media Release, “We are very pleased that the new regulations are being implemented and we look forward to working closely with government to further enhance organized snowmobiling in the Province of British Columbia.”
Changes to the Motor Vehicle Act regulations will also allow off-road vehicle operators greater access to highways, including the ability to:
- Cross a highway without having to obtain an operation permit if the crossing is controlled by a stop sign or traffic light.
- Cross a highway where authorized by police through an operation permit.
- Load or unload in a parking lot without an operation permit.
- Obtain an operation permit with an extended term of up to two years.
For More Information:
- Off-road vehicle registration launched for BC, CBC News
- New off-road vehicle registration laws coming into effect, Global News
