COS Recruits 8 New Auxiliary Officers
Prince George, B.C. – The provincial government has announced additional resources to help the Conservation Officer Service (COS) enforce the province’s new off road vehicle (ORV) enforcement regulations.
COS deputy chief Chris Doyle says they will soon have eight auxiliary conservation officers “focusing on off road vehicle education and enforcement across the province.”
He says the COS has taken the “lead responsibility for enforcing these regulations” and notes the new officers were made possible through “the reallocation of resources from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.”
Doyle says one of these officers will be stationed in the Prince George area (Omineca region) adding their responsibilities won’t be limited to ORV regulations.
“They will also complement and support full time conservation officers with enforcement and other duties including responding to human/wildlife conflicts.”
He says the eight new auxiliaries will receive training in July and August before being posted throughout the province.
“They’re expected to work until January and then resume duties again in the spring of 2017.”
B.C.’s new off road vehicle regulations kicked in November 1st, 2015 and included new provisions on number plate placement, rules for child operators and safety equipment requirements.
Comments
In regards to the off road vehicle licensing and usage, who will be policing the use of said vehicles on city streets, parks and pathways? My neighbourhood is rife with yahoos who ride their ATVs or snowmobiles through Gladstone Park to get to the back road area past Malaspina.
Or, even more delightfully, they are riding them up and down the city street to the enjoyment of all, gunning engines, popping wheelies, or racing each other. Never mind there are kids at risk all around, and/or the high decibel noise disturbances caused, often late at night as they come out play under to cover of darkness.
I have taken to going out with the camera to photograph these charming neighbours in order to let them know I can identify them and what house they came from.
In the past I have called the police to ask them to review rules of the road with these individuals and been told they are not able to enforce it, even with photographic evidence.
So, these off road vehicles will now have license plates and be fully identifiable? Can I report them for violating the rules of the road or park use bylaws? I would love to know how to deal with my most charming neighbours…
The driver has to be identified for charges. The owner could be spoken to but no charges unless identified for proof during the act. That is what I have been told by the police.
Not that they would care, but they take quite a risk. If they have an accident – they have zero insurance. Their house policy doesn’t cover motorized vehicles,and off-road insurance is for off-road, not city road. So, if they run over someone and badly injure them, that someone will get to take everything they own, and collect a cheque from them for the rest of their life – because you can’t declare bankruptcy on a damage award. All this because you don’t want to take the time to load it on your trailer. You could maybe ask Skakun to put up some surveillance cameras.
FYI –
Authorized ORV highway use is limited to incidental travel directly across a highway at a
controlled crossing (traffic light or stop sign), loading or unloading from another vehicle in a
parking lot, or travel on any highway anywhere local police authorize within the limits set
out in an MV1815 Operation Permit
Poppa, there is hope.
Earlier this year I had 2 different quads traveling down Loyola to get to the pit, I never saw them together though. One guy traveled really slowly maybe 25/30 kmh the other just flew. I had enough and spoke to the RCMP and they said they would keep an eye on the situation.
I flagged down slow quad guy after that and asked him if he knew the other guy, nope he didn’t. I let him know I had spoken with the RCMP so they would be looking around. He thanked me for that. I let him know he wasn’t the problem in my eyes but the other guy was.
Three weeks or so later I turned onto the street and was greeted with fast guys quad on a tow truck and I would assume fast quad guy receiving some tickets.
That was almost two months ago now and I haven’t had a problem since.
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