WHEREAS small rural communities could benefit economically as service centres for the growing recreational sport of all terrain vehicle ATV touring; AND WHEREAS legislation in British Columbia currently prohibits the operation of all terrain vehicles on highways, roads and streets for recreational purposes: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the provincial government to amend current legislation to permit local governments to regulate the operation of ATVs on municipal roads and streets within their boundaries.
Ministry of Transportation Infrastructure The Province is developing an Off Road Vehicle Management Framework. The Ministry of Forests Land and Natural Resource Operations is leading the frameworks development and has developed a website: http:www.for.gov.bc.camoforv The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is responsible for road safety, which includes ensuring that vehicles operating on public roadways meet recognized safety standards. In support of that mandate, all vehicles that operate on public roads in BC must be licensed and insured by ICBC. ATVs do not meet the vehicle safety standards which apply to other motor vehicles that operate on public roadways, so they cannot be operated on public roadways except under specific circumstances for farming, industrial uses, landscaping and maintenance and law enforcement. In addition, there are no driver licensing requirements for operators of ATVs. Operators are not required to show proficiency on the ATV prior to using and specific conditions, such as a minimum age are not applied. For these reasons, ATVs are currently not permitted on public roads.