Off-road vehicle registration and safety provisions are mandatory on Crown land effective Nov. 1, 2015, following passage of regulations in support of the Off-Road Vehicle Act.
The new regulations will promote safe and responsible use of B.C.’s backcountry, and include provisions on number plate placement, rules for child operators and safety equipment requirements. Operating standards include:
* Helmets: Helmets must be worn when operating an off-road vehicle (ORV). For standards of acceptable helmets see section 22 of the Off-Road Vehicle Regulation at www.bclaws.ca (Off-Road Vehicle Act).
* Seat belts: If a manufacturer has installed seat belts, then the seat belt must be worn during the operation of that vehicle.
* Lights: ORVs must use lights during low visibility conditions when riding on Crown land 30 minutes after sunset or 30 minutes before sunrise. If lights are not installed by the manufacturer, temporary lights can be attached to the ORV. For details on light standards see section 24 of the Off-Road Vehicle Regulation.
* Children: Children must be supervised when riding on Crown land and be riding an appropriate sized ORV as recommended by the manufacturer. For details, see sections 16-18 of the Off-Road Vehicle Regulation.
The off-road vehicle registration is integrated within the pre-existing structure of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia’s (ICBC) motor vehicle registry.
This will reduce implementation costs and allows off road vehicle owners to register at any of the 900+ ICBC insurance brokers in the province.
The regulations also fulfil the Province’s commitment to create a sticker option for those ORVs which are unable to house metal plates.
Owners who already secured an ORV number plate during voluntary registration can, between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 2015, bring their registration and metal plate to any ICBC broker and exchange their metal plate for a sticker for no charge. After Dec. 31, 2015, an $18 fee will apply to exchange a metal plate for a sticker or vice versa.
As well, snowmobile owners who have already registered their vehicles under the Motor Vehicle (All Terrain) Act will be eligible for refund, up until Nov. 16, 2015, when they register under the ORV Act.
The refund will be for the amount they had already paid – this will be $5 for transfers and $10 for registration.
Voluntary registration has been in place since Nov. 17, 2014, and since then over 35,000 users have registered.
As of Nov. 1, 2015, registration will be mandatory. The combined cost of the number plate and registration fee remains $48.
These changes, made possible by the passage of the Off-Road Vehicle Act on March 24, 2014, support the Province’s Off Road Vehicle Management Framework.
The framework helps British Columbians get out and enjoy the beauty of the province’s backcountry and ensure off-road vehicles, including snowmobiles, are driven in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.
The regulations govern the rules of operation, safety standards, penalties and conditions of use for a wide range of ORVs, including snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles or “quads”, dirt bikes and side-by-sides (e.g. Rhinos and Argos).
For more detailed information on the new ORV regulations there is a detailed FAQ at: https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/orv/
