News release

Off-highway Regulations Promote Safety, Parental Responsibility

Natural Resources (to July 2018)

Off-highway vehicle regulations to promote rider safety, encourage parental responsibility and protect the environment become law in Nova Scotia on Saturday, April 1.

Natural Resources Minister Brooke Taylor and the Minister of Health Promotion and Protection, Barry Barnet, say they are confident that Nova Scotians will benefit in many ways from some immediate changes, and others that will be phased in over several years.

"As a government, we're balancing the interests of many organizations and individuals that have come forward," said Mr. Taylor. "Children under 14 can still ride this spring and summer, but parents are now required to make sure stringent safety conditions are met. Our long-term approach will encourage safe, responsible recreational activities enjoyed by thousands of Nova Scotia families."

"Providing a safe environment for families to gather and enjoy off-highway vehicle use is our main concern," said Mr. Barnet. "As safety training is phased in, younger riders will be at the head of the line."

The Off-highway Vehicle Act and regulations:

  • establish phased-in safety training, based on age. For children under 14, the training requirements differ based on type of machine. Youths under 14 who ride ATVs have six months to complete training. Youths under 14 who ride off-road motorcycles or snow vehicles have 18 months to allow for the development of qualified training programs. Until then, children under 14 can only ride under strict supervision and other conditions.

  • require all riders aged 14 and 15 and their parents or guardians to have completed safety training by Oct. 1, 2007 (within 18 months). Operators between the ages of 16 to 24 require training by April 1, 2009 (within three years). Operators between the ages of 25 and 34 have until April 1, 2011 (five years) and operators 35 years of age or older have until April 1, 2012 (six years) to complete their training. Riders are exempt from training requirements if they have passed the Canada Safety Council OHV safety program since 1991.

  • establish the Off-highway Vehicle Infrastructure Fund to be used for future trail development, organizational funding, health and safety projects, training and other initiatives. Beginning April 1, recreational riders will pay the $40 annual fund fee in addition to registration costs.

  • exempt certain classes of riders from having to pay the vehicle infrastructure fund fee. They include:

  • riders who operate vehicles solely on private land they
    own or occupy;

  • persons related to a landowner by blood or marriage,
    common-law or registered domestic relationship, and who
    ride solely on the related landowner's property;

  • farmers, fishers and forest workers who use off-highway
    vehicles only for their work;

  • peace officers;

  • employees or self-employed persons as defined in the
    Occupational Health and Safety Act;

  • Status Indians who ride solely on communal reserve land;

  • government employees using off-highway vehicles for work;

  • persons operating a golf cart on a public or private golf
    course.

  • permit a charge to be laid against anyone caught riding an off-highway vehicle after March 31 without a valid registration. The fine ranges from $250 to $2,000.

  • require a rider, or group of riders, to obtain written permission from a landowner before moving onto private property. Landowners can report violations by calling toll-free 1-800-565-2224. They can also contact local police.

  • provide for licensing in vulnerable environmental areas in exceptional circumstances.

  • permit a landowner in a coastal barren or highland barren to operate an off-highway vehicle on their own property, without requiring a special licence.

  • authorize the minister's advisory committee to recommend how the infrastructure fund should be used each year.

  • create opportunities to set up a system of designated trails.

  • define terms such as "closed course," "first responder," "instructor," "trained official" and "guardian".

The province has set up a toll-free number for information on the regulations. It is 1-877-OHV-LINE. Calls during regular business hours will be directed to the nearest office of the Department of Natural Resources. Information is also available on the government website at <a href="http://www.gov.ns.ca/natr/">www.gov.ns.ca/natr/</a .

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