Nearly all jurisdictions in North America have registration and licensing requirements for off-road vehicles (ORV), everywhere that is except B.C.
While a B.C. Motor Vehicle (All Terrain) Act was created, it has yet to be amended since its introduction in the early ‘70s.
The act only applies to snowmobiles with no regulations established for other off-road vehicles. As a result there are no off-highway registration or licensing requirements other than a one-time registration for initial snowmobile purchases.
Feeling it was time for the province to implement regulations, a number of B.C. organizations affiliated with the ORV industry formed the Coalition for the Licensing and Registration of Off Road Vehicles in 2002.
The coalition has been working collaboratively to achieve management of ORV in B.C.
In Jan. 2006 the group submitted 47 recommendations to the provincial government as a basis for the creation of an ORV legislation.
Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald says the series of recommendations have yet to be addressed by the B.C. government.
“We didn’t see it this session again and we should have seen it by now,” said Macdonald.
The bill was anticipated earlier in the year but has yet to surface. Macdonald says having these different figures within the ORV community band together to reach a consensus should have simplified the process.
“Putting together the legislation should be fairly straightforward,” said Macdonald.
The MLA says the requirement of registration and licensing would deter theft and offer more in the means of a recovery program for stolen vehicles.
As it stands it’s difficult for enforcement officers to identify riders who disobey laws; this can allow for erratic behaviour on the area’s off-roads.
Macdonald says leaving these situations to sort themselves out is typical of the provincial government.
“The Campbell government constantly puts things of importance to rural communities at the bottom of the list,” said Macdonald.
The MLA hopes to see the legislative assembly address ORV regulations in the coming year.
“At the very least get it ready for the spring,” said Macdonald.