New registration and safety regulations for operating off-road vehicles (ORVs) came into effect on Sunday.

The regulations apply on Crown land effective as of Nov. 1 under the province’s Off-Road Vehicle Act.

Registration of off-road vehicles has been in place since Nov. 17, 2014, but until Sunday is was voluntary. It is now mandatory and the registration fee is $48.

Originally mandatory registration was to come into effect on June 1, but in late May the provincial government extended the deadline.

Off-road vehicle registration is integrated within the pre-existing structure of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) motor vehicle registry.

Registration is not mandatory for vehicles operated solely on private property.

The province has also changed the requirements to allow a sticker option for ORVs that are unable to house metal plates.

Owners who already obtained an ORV number plate during voluntary registration can exchange them for a sticker at no extra cost at an ICBC broker until Dec. 31, 2015.

As well, snowmobile owners who have already registered their vehicles under the Motor Vehicle (All Terrain) Act will be eligible for a refund up to Nov. 16, 2015 when they register under the ORV Act.

The regulations govern the rules of operation, safety standards, penalties and conditions of use for a wide range of ORVs including snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles or “quads,” dirt bikes and side-by-sides such as Rhinos and Argos.

An estimated 200,000 off-road vehicles are used in the province. More than 35,000 users registered under the voluntary system. Snowmobiles have been registered in B.C. since the 1970s.

The new rules also impose safety and operating standards:

  • Helmets must be worn when operating an ORV;
  • Seat belts must be worn if the manufacturer has installed them;
  • Lights must be used in low visibility conditions when riding on Crown land 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise. If lights were not installed by the manufacturer, temporary lights meeting the requirements may be attached.
  • Children must be supervised when riding on Crown land and be riding an appropriate sized ORV.

Complete information is available on the websites of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLNRO) and ICBC at www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/orv/ and http://www.icbc.com/vehicle-registration/specialty-vehicles/Pages/Off-road-vehicles.aspx.

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Osoyoos Times