The OPP and Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) are reminding local sledders to abide the law this winter season in order to stay safe and have peace of mind.
Many of the rules associated with the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act also apply to snowmobile operators including speeding, failure to stop at a road crossing and driving with blood/alcohol levels exceeding the legal limit.
Penalties include fines, loss of your driver’s license, criminal charges and imprisonment.
"A rider whose blood alcohol level is between 0.05 and 0.08 can be issued the same three-day warning that suspends a driver’s licence on the road," said OPP Sergeant Michael Price, off road safety program co-ordinator of the OPP Highway Safety Division. "In this case, the offending snowmobiler can no longer drive his/her sled to complete their ride."
Riders are reminded that the new Ontario Zero Tolerance law for driver’s 21 and under also applies to snowmobiles.
To help Ontario snowmobilers make smart choices, the OPP and the OFSC are providing the following checklist. Snowmobile operators must always have on their person or sled a valid driver’s licence (or if under age 16, a Snow Vehicle Operator’s Licence), proof of snowmobile ownership, sled registration (including properly placed registration numbers and validation sticker on sled), proof of sled insurance, approved snowmobile helmet for each rider and a 2011 snowmobile trail permit, properly displayed on the sled, with permit.
