BC expands regulations governing use of off-road recreational vehicles

British Columbia off-road vehicle (ORV) riders will be required to wear a helmet, register their ORVs and display license plates when operating their vehicles on Crown land.
The proposed new regulations would define ORVs as including dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles and will not apply to private land.
Under the new framework, which has a two-year implementation timeframe, all ORV riders using Crown land will require one-time registration with a licence plate for their machines, in addition to wearing helmets and using lights at night.
Age-appropriate safety measures and adult supervision will be required for young rides.
New standards for mufflers will minimize the noise impact on wildlife and spark arrestors will reduce the risk of forest fires.
“This initiative, in part, is about allowing law enforcement officials to track stolen ORVs, something almost impossible today,” said Bill Bennett, minister of community and rural development.
“Recreationists have lots of fun riding their ORVs in Ontario and Quebec with a similar system and it will work well here in B.C. too.”