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Ignorance is bliss, except when it comes to the law
Columbia Valley RCMP Report
Cpl. B.A. Ayers (Brent)
The Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment responds every year to complaints involving recreational vehicles, including snowmobiles. Complaints vary from year to year and we thought we would send out the following information just as a reminder.
All snowmobiles in the Province of British Columbia are required to be registered under the Motor Vehicle (All Terrain) Act. This has been a requirement since the early 1970s.
At the time of registration the owner of the snowmobile must place the two yellow decals on either side of the tunnel. These decals are not transferable from machine to machine. A copy of the registration must be on the machine at all times. Failure to provide proof of registration or failure to provide the supporting documents are separate ticketing offences.
If your snowmobile has never been registered before, or has been modified with an aftermarket tunnel, or is from out of province, a mandatory check of your motor and chassis serial numbers are required for registration.
The Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment, or any detachment, can assist with this, time permitting to verify your serial numbers. Take note that if you have just recently bought a new snowmobile, it is advisable that you write down the serial numbers of your motor as it will be different than the one on your chassis.
If your snowmobile is stolen the chances of finding it increases by 50% if you also provide the motor serial number. Rotax of Austria supply engines to Bombardier, Fuji supply Polaris, and Suzuki power Arctic Cat. Yamaha supplies it’s own engines; however, since the early 1990s the serial numbers are different.
Registration is affordable and is for the life of the snowmobile. However, keep in mind that the province will want the sales tax and that is all dependent on what price was paid for the snowmobile.
I guess this is the price we pay to ride in beautiful British Columbia!
All registered snowmobiles are allowed to utilize non-maintained Forest Service Roads (FSR) without ICBC insurance. The maximum speed limit on a non-maintained FSR for a snowmobile is 80 km/h. Once a grader makes a swipe of the road it becomes maintained. If one wishes to use the snowmobile on a public road, even just to cross, by law, you need to have your machine licensed and insured just like a car.
Third party liability insurance is available from your ICBC broker. Once insured you then need to obtain a permit from your local RCMP which will outline where you can cross or utilize a roadway. For the most part in the Columbia Valley this may not be granted or feasible depending on the community, traffic volume, or lack of snow!
In theory ditch riding is prohibitive as liability insurance is required within 30 metres from the center of roadway! Insurance obtained through the B.C. Snowmobile Federation or obtained privately is liability insurance for off road use only. The insurance is void once the operator drives on or crosses a public road.
For driving on a non maintained forest service road, including public roads and Crown land, the snowmobile must be in good mechanical condition with an operative headlight, rear light, and working brakes.
There is no enforceable helmet law while riding on Crown Land, but one is only tempting fate if they decide not to wear one.
Those who wish to mix recreational riding with recreational drugs, including alcohol, be advised that the Criminal Code of Canada prohibits the impaired operation of any motor vehicle including snowmobiles on any public road or public access area, including the backcountry or frozen lakes. Every year this detachment responds to incidents involving snowmobiles where alcohol was the contributing factor to decision making. It fogs the experienced rider’s judgment.
If a backcountry adventure is planned, plan and be prepared. An avalanche beacon, probe, shovel, warm clothing, survival kit, first aid kit, and basic tool kit should be all considered. Leave an itinerary with someone, and don’t go alone.
These considerations will ensure a safe experience. Never rely on other people to bale you out. Ride within your limits and ride with respect to the area you are riding in.
Join your local snowmobile club. You will be amazed with the people and wealth of experience that the club has to offer. The Windermere Valley Snowmobile Society is this area’s local organized club and have cabins that they have available in a few backcountry riding areas.
Ignorance is bliss, except when it comes to the law. If you ride, or have a family member who rides, please take the time to become informed.
The Columbia Valley Detachment has snowmobiles and all members of this detachment, including traffic members, are trained operators. Time permitting enforcement patrols will be made in many of the snowmobiling areas.
Be aware that snowmobiles or any all terrain vehicles are often stolen and can be stripped and parted for cash or sold to unsuspecting buyers.
If it’s too good to be true, then it most times it is. From my experience across British Columbia, Alberta and the US border patrols, random checks of snowmobiles either on the trail or being transported, curbs thefts within a community. All snowmobile operators are required by law to stop when directed by an enforcement officer, a designation which includes police / with auxiliary, B.C. Conservation and National Park Wardens.
Ultimately snowmobiling is fun, it is a great way to enjoy the winter months and can be surprisingly affordable compared to other winter activities. We want you to have fun, safe fun!
If you have any questions or concerns with regards to snowmobiles you can contact the Columbia Valley detachment and speak with any member of this detachment including myself, Cpl. Brent Ayers.
Quiet over Christmas
Basically sounds like a quad in the lake, and seven or eight other vehicles over the Christmas season including the car that Warbrick Towing was taking out of the mouth of Windermere Creek by Lakeshore Campground. Kudos to Warbrick Towing!
By New Years Day we had four people in cells, but they were released after tickets provided to them; something to do with liquor, fighting, and bars between Panorama and downtown Invermere.
Some people also lost their driver’s licence and vehicle as a result of having liquor that produced a fail. Some guy lit fire works in the The T-Bar at Panorama. But from all accounts, really not too bad, with no reportable tragic events, lucky considering the amount of people who were in the area to celebrate.
