I was reading in the general forum that NS just changed the off road vehicle act. So how does it affect ATVs and sleds?
Curious from Manitoba...
Dave

This is my summary of Bill 275.

Sleds - trail passes are mandatory, must have 30 cm's of snow to ride in a sensitive area, kids can ride on a machine as long as it is manufacturer recommended for thier age (which is a bit of crap because the only machine I found recommended for under 16 is the 120cc machines), no after-market exhausts that increases sound (basically bans pipes and cans).

ATV's- no riding in sensitive areas and there is a list as long as your arm as to what a sensitive area is, no under 14's can ride unless its on a kids wheeler on a closed course with paramedics on site and officials (basically they can't ride, F'n NDP and Liberals).
So they limited the age of the rider and restriced where an ATV can go, which has the potential to cut out a ton of trails across the province.

Mandatory safety training course for everyone and all must have written permission to cross private land. License and Insurance will be mandatory. Rallies must be approved by DNR (clubs must get a permit). OHV fund was created which we will fund by government sticking $25 or $30 dollars on to our licensing fee. There is a lot more to this legislation than I wrote, the bill is 10 or so pages.

Some of it is not bad, and in general snowmobiles go away pretty clean, ATVing had the book thrown at them because two young girls were tragically killed in an accident during the time government was debating the legislation, then doctors, health care workers, NDP and Liberals ganged up and pushed thier agenda to limit and restrict the use of ATV's.

How about ATVs on groomed sled trails?

There is a clause that the Minister can designate trails for a class of OHV, I would interpret this to mean that the Minister of Natural Resources can designate a trail as a Snowmobile trail, if he wishes, that would mean any ATV on that trail would be in violation. But if you follow on, the law that states Trail Permits are required on these designated trails, if the ATV had a SANS trail permit they could possible comply with this law but I bet it would be an interesting court case.

smclelan, any comments to add? I'm sure you read this law in detail when it came out.

dam i live in the blue and up section. :doh:

well with a new PC goverenment on it's way in...you can safely sell your sled.

They can make all the laws they want but who the hell will enforce us riders from not riding in aspy bay/pollets cove area. Jeez there only a handful of riders who know there way around up there. Those guys and the rest of us that travel with them are a small core group from White Point, South Harbour, Dingwall, Cape North, Bay St. Lawerence, Meat Cove and Pleasant Bay.

good to see someone interested tartan1. I'll post on this later.

Guys, if the trail exists now you can still travel on it in accordance with the current legislation. The only way they will shut down snowmobiling on a certain trail is if they build another trail around the wilderness area. The way I read it now you aren't breaking any laws. And just a note, the federal government does not control OHV laws, thats the provinces jurisdiction. Harper the his government are mostly Alberta type cowboys anyways, they love fishing, hunting/guns and OHV's just like many of us.

The OHV doesn`t really affect northern CB. No actual designated trails exist so that out of the question too. We haven`t been allowed to do what we do around here for about four years now, but we do it anyway. We all know that, nothing new there. I don`t think there`s much to worry about now either. I doubt those two ___holes they just hired around here to enforce the act are going to spend much time uyp there either. As far as being allowed to build trails, it`s time to stop talking about it because it will never happen.

DNR will probably never find you anyways and if they did they probably wouldn't say to much. They don't stop the Harvesters from running ATV's in there between August to November so they probably won't say much about a snowmobile either.

Well that's just it. Northern CB is full of trails but they haven't been designated as trails so they havent been included into the OHV or wilderness protected area act.
I don't think it's time to stop talking about building trails. There's National Parks right Across this country that allow atving and snow mobiling. Why not here in Nova Scotia as well. NFLD recognizes the tourism potential in it. Why not NS.

Formula670- of course they'd never find us, they'd get lost in the process and need us to go get them. But it's not about that. It's about being allowed, no hidding from it.

Riding Mountain National Park here in MB does not allow any motorized recreational vehicles on trails. Would be nice...

Do you guys have problems with ATVs on your trails?

Another problem to consider......................

Let's just say that we, as snowmobilers, were allowed and maybe even funded by the GOV, LMFAO, to build some trails............

Spring rolls around.............

Guess who is tearing up these trails now??? Guess who will take the flak?

So maybe the best solution is to keep the areas closed, and use some common sense and ignore the sleds that are passing through harmlessly. Should someone decide that they have the right to do some damage, nail their a$$es to the wall as a deterrent. But again allow, no not allow, "ignore" the innocent snowmobiler. He/she is there for recreation and enjoyment only and will use common sense in their travels and stay away from the areas without the proper snow cover.

I am the owner of both sled and bike, and it kills me to see the damage caused by ignoranance and complete disregard for our natural resources.

just a thought, don't get riled up........................

C.B. Highlands National park probably has the most backward mindset of any park in Canada...that is well known among there set. They make there own rules.....the top people there are like a 30 year veteran teacher ready to retire....burnt out and not able to think out of the box. Only way trails will be pushed thru the park is to organize sledders in this area and go after the top politicans who live here in summer homes....lowell murray senator etc. One swath thru the trees across from south harbour thru the park puts us in the highlands and maybe more importantly gives access to everyone who rides there from across N.S. to see this part of the country. Strength in numbers. As for riding north of the park....things are fine as they are.

If you plan on pushing for a trail up there do it quiet. If some environmental group like EAC gets a hold of that infomation they will b*tch and complain and kick up a big stink over something they know nothing about, but then again thats all they ever do.

oh no things aren't

this from the act...

Prohibitions

17 (1) Within a wilderness area, no person shall


(a) acquire a mineral right or petroleum right;


(b) construct or develop an energy-resource development, including a hydro-electric or water-resource development or associated impoundment;


© construct or develop a transmission or distribution line, pipeline or tunnel; or


(d) carry out forestry or acquaculture [aquaculture] activities.


(2) Except as provided in this Act or the regulations, within a wilderness area no person shall


(a) carry out mineral or petroleum development, quarrying or mining;


(b) construct, maintain or operate a structure or facility, utility line or bridge;


© carry out agricultural activities;


(d) create, construct, maintain or operate a trail, road, railway, aircraft landing strip or helicopter pad;


(e) use or operate a vehicle or bicycle;


(f) camp, tent or occupy the land;


(g) alter the surface of the land;


(h) remove, destroy, or damage any natural object, flora or fauna, whether living or dead;


(i) remove, destroy or damage any object of scientific, historical, archaeological, cultural or palaeontological interest;


(j) introduce a substance or thing that may destroy or damage existing flora, fauna or ecosystems;


(k) dump or deposit any litter, garbage or refuse other than in containers provided or designated by the Minister for that purpose;



(l) light or maintain a fire;


(m) create a nuisance or act in a manner or do anything that may be, or may cause, a nuisance; or


(n) carry on an activity that is restricted or prohibited by the regulations. 1998, c. 27, s. 17.

As I said before making rules and enforcing them are two different cans of worms...who is going to bother you riding up there in the winter besides jack frost?

as i said before...

of course they'd never find us, they'd get lost in the process and need us to go get them. But it's not about that. It's about being allowed, not about hidding from it.

anyone wanna talk new trails? must be somebody who would like to open up the highlands to snowmobiling

the kind of trails would be like the highlands and places like that i belive traisl on the northern tip of capebreton are peoples land , trails on crown land will be shut down

opening up trails to the highlands would be a great idea, and you would never beable to pick a better winter then this one to cut trails. I just think it's a shame that there isn't more trails around for here snowmobiling, or Atv's. I think if there was a trail that we could cut, i believe if we went and seen the right people they would give ya some money to help out, I don't think that would be a problem/
Just my two cents
Jeff

i think it'd be next to impossible to get any permission to cut through Wilderness Protected Area and National Park, no matter what people we'd talk to, especially with a Conservative government.
But if we could get organized to just go and cut a trail....well then we could say it's been there since years

true enough, but the worst today, there are so many rat's out there if they even seen a few guys walk in the woods with chain saw's you don't think they'd call on ya? haha i do man. Just to bad tho... where would the best spot to be, around here to get to the highlands. If your anywheres into the hardwood, wouldn't take very long.

Jeff, your close to being right (but your a bit early). The funding won't be released for a few months but there is something in the works. The little guys (us trail users) will get heard on this issue, I do know that, we may not get everything we want but we sure will try hard. Its going to be a long process also, its estimated that its going to take $10,000 per km.
The funding will most likely go to organized groups that have a good plan and an ability to demonstrate why their trail should get the money over another trail in NS. I believe there will be a focus on connecting NS first, a multi-use OHV trail system from one end to the other. Don't jump all over the multi-use part guys, I have a feeling there will be ground rules and this will be done right.

I think opening up the Highlands to snowmobile use is a great idea that should be worked towards. It would be an attraction that would bring people from many places to ride. It would only be achieved by a very well organized group that could make a proposal that would show how something like this could benefit the island. With enough people supporting it and working together, it just may be achieved.

just so that were on the same page here

wait a second, 10,000$ for a km? wa we gonna be doing paving ours trail's??? Man, why would it cost soo much?? I'm only talking locate a good spot, get a group of guys around, use our own chain saws, and ask for a bit of money. like anything be a help, just pay for the gas and oil and stuff. Like it wouldn't take long with a group of people. why would we need money? we can make our own bridges sure we all made lots of them in our life.
Jeff

yup, were all with ya i believe, good map there nasty-rev

The type of trails your talking should be easy sells then, I'm talking cut trails 8' to 10', excavated/dozed and graveled. And yes it costs that much, trans-canada trail costs were along those lines.

ya man, but if you got nice ground, with no rocks, you can make a nice trail cutting the stumps good and low to the ground. why gravel a trail that's gonna be smooth?? I don't think anyone would want a gravel trail going threw the woods anyways?? As long as you take your time cutting it, it would be a nice and wide and good for anything.
Jeff

Also it would have to be a snowmobile trail only. No summer activity on it whatsoever.

The Act is GARBAGE. a few weeks ago the DNR were chasing our kids on our land at Isaac' Lake (near Sutherlands). They (DNR)were in fact trespassing on family land. Meanwhile there were a bunch of 4-wheelers racing on the Webb road and the DNR would't do anything about it. There was also a boat ripping up the lake causing damage to the shoreline. The DNR officer said he didn't have a radar gun. I guess they concentrate on the real problem - 8 year olds driving on the trail in a safe and responsible manner. I complained to DNR in an email and never even got a response! They are as much as a joke as the Act!!
I say we REVOLT

ur right :div20: :div20: :div20: :div20:

Seems to be the same old bullshit everytime....the innocent guys picks up the tab for the not so responsible. It is total bs as to why this new law is out....we can fight it...just like the gun law...i didn't register mine and now we don't have to anyway...in fact, registered owners are being refunded. Seems like they want to get the youth out of the woods, off the water and on the streets....makes no sense at all......

yes... it sure sound's like a pile of bullshit just to enjoy the winter's D.N.R.. suck :banghead: :div20:

When are gun people getting money back? Like a fool, I registered all ours, never heard about a refund. It'd be nice though!

I've also heard that DNR enforcement has been getting changing direction lately. Something along the lines of complaint based, and not going to be actively out on the trails chasing down the wrong people so much. The whole thing is a work in progress, there's also no way that people will get licensed under the timetable they set out, and they know it. Also heard of some subtle Wilderness Protected Area changes, for the better.

Got my $60 cheque yesterday.

I think it was for my possession licence though not gun registration.

They called it my "firearms licence"

We did not need it in N.B. anyhow as the provincial Government refused to enforce the act. The Tree Cops were told not to check for them a few years ago.