There’s the saying, “rules are meant to be broken”, but that could land you in trouble if you are an ATV or snowmobile rider.
Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy recently posted a video from a county resident warning riders to be careful if they decide to trespass.
“Just going around properties and you don’t want to hit this,” The resident explained in the video, gesturing to a well in the ground.
“ATVs, snowmobiles, four wheelers, go on private property, you sometimes don’t see what you’re going to drive into until it’s too late,” said Bondy.
“I really don’t want any tragedies to happen in Essex County.”
By law, owners are allowed to operate their ATVs and snowmobiles on their own property, but if caught on the road, that vehicle has to follow the rules of the Highway Traffic Act.
“You can be charged with offenses, including no insurance, no license, no registration,” said OPP constable Chris Ciliska.
He explained according to the Off-Road Vehicles Act, an ATV or snowmobile rider could be fined for being on the roadway, unless there is a specific bylaw allowing it. You could also be left stranded.
“If we catch you on the roadway, you’re not allowed to be there,” Ciliska added.
“So, we could be towing your, vehicle and you’d be finding a new way home.”
Shawn Ellenberger, president of the Ontario Federation of ATV Clubs, said there are two insured trails in the county for members of the Essex County ATV club to use.
“If we did have road access on the back roads and certain class roads, you probably eliminate 90 per cent of the rogue riders because then they would have a legal path to get to where they want to go,” Ellenberger told CTV News.
He feels by allowing ATVs on roadways, like in many other municipalities, it could cut down on trespassing and attract new riders.
“There’s a huge opportunity missed for us in the county in the sense of, like I said, the tourism aspect drawing people to Essex County,” said Ellenberger, who points to two clubs in Chatham-Kent that have hosted fundraising events.
“For instance, Tri Shores Club last year had a fundraiser event, I believe there was 180 to 200 participants, and they raised $5,000 for their Dresden Legion. They took that money and immediately put it into renovations. There’s another ride coming up.”
Bondy said looking at trail possibilities and presenting a plan to both levels of government in the county could help move the needle.
“The idea is when any citizens organize, come together with data and information elected bodies should listen to those requests and put some thought into it,” she said.
