Different BC Insurance required?

[HotShotHarry]

I was talking to a friend today who just came back from Valemount. He and his group had 10 days booked in the campground next to Dreamcatchers in Valemount last week. On their first day there,they unloaded their side by sides and quads and were headed towards the highway to go to the gravel road that they taking for their trip. An RCMP officer was waiting for them. He told them that they cannot cross the highway or travel along the highway in the ditch. He said that he would fine anyone trying to cross the highway-$600. The group had no issues with that and re-loaded their quads and transported them to the gravel road instead. Now the confusing part- During the conversation with the officer,the officer told them that their Alberta insurance was not valid in BC and they would have to get BC insurance. When the group tried to protest and expressed their confusion, they were told not to argue with him or they will all be fined right now.They did their day trip,then went back and cancelled the remaining 9 days at the campground. They also went to the RCMP station the next morning to try and get answers to the insurance thing but no one was there. Has anyone ever heard of a different insurance required for ATV's in BC?

 

[suzuki_ryder]

I would call your insurance company to see if their plan is still good in other provinces. I would think insurance is valid in any province/ country so long as its up to date.


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[dumbassracing]

your out of province insurance is good for 5 days in BC and vise versa.That cop was being a typical small cop. they are really bad in bc and love taken advantage of you guys in alberta.I have the same problems when i go to bruel cause we dont have to run plates on quads in bc, and we get threatened with vehical sesires if you protest at all.just another way for them to hand out tickets and not do their real jobs like stopping crime.

 

[Nytroman]

Wow, getting to technical for me, planned to go for a weekend ride before fall to Canoe mountain, but if thats the attitude theres lots of riding here for less accomodation/fuel/time $'s.

 

[tmo1620]

It is probably that same A$$hole that was giving me the stink eye at the A&W in Valemount last year. He just stared at me the whole time I was eating, I asked him what he was staring at and he said not much. I asked him if I did anything wrong and he shrugged his shoulders as to say maybe. Then he got up and left and took a long hard look at my buddies truck with our sleds on the deck. I didnt think much of it and when we finished eating we hopped in the truck and headed back to the Ramada. He then come out of nowhere in his cruiser and pulled us over in the parking lot at Ramada. He came to the window and said he wanted to see all our paperwork for our sleds and when I asked why, he said "cause young punks like you are always up to no good and I bet you guys haven't got any of the correct paperwork for these sleds, and if you don't I can seize them right now." I said really....... well today your wrong officer. We showed him all our paperwork and after we made him feel stupid with a couple smart a$$ comments he said "well...... I actually stopped you because you two matched a description of some people that were reported to have stole a silver dodge with a sled deck and sleds". I called bullchit on it and said if thats all officer I need to go back to my room now, as I don't have all night to sit here and be accused of $hit I never did. Never did see the little weasel again. Got checked the next morning at the Allen Creek parking lot by a cop doing serial # checks and he was very polite and nice to deal with. Never came right out with accusations or anything. Just a friendly hello how are you this morning and explained what he was doing......... it was one extreme to the next with those guys

 

[ferniesnow]

The insurance/registration on your quad or sideXside is just like your vehicle. It is valid anywhere in Canada. I have never heard of "valid for 5 days" before.

The cops like to make you walk across a "highway" unless you have a special permit. That permit is valid anywhere in BC but some of the cops don't think so. It is a very frustrating scenario even here in BC and the cops aren't all on the same page.

 

[HotShotHarry]

Thanks for the replys. All the riders in the group had valid Alberta registration and insurance. I have never heard of a 5 day coverage only either. If that is the case, then many of my sled trips beyond 5 days, I would not have had insurance coverage. I also think that the officer was being a jerk. Too bad too as the town and campground owner lost 9 days of tourist dollars as the group returned to Alberta with an unwarranted bad experience and a desire to not want to return to Valemount again. These guys are sledders also and have rode Valemount in the past and just wanted to experience Valemount in the summer.

 

[Treedragon]

This must have been an out of town cop as I've talked with a constable from Valemount and his comment was they bring in extra help and all they do is stir up the hornets nest and leave them to deal with it, which leaves a very bad taste in everyone's mouth, and It suck's that these individuals ruin the experience people have and the benefit the town gets from the tourist dollars. I'm thinking his old lady beats him, and he takes it out on innocent people IMO

 

[whoDEANie]

I'm just planning a trip to Valemount. I don't buy the BS about 5 days out-of-privince coverage, but it is interesting to know that there are special rules in BC for crossing a highway.

 

[HotShotHarry]

I think when it comes to crossing the highway,that it would[or should] be the same as in Alberta. You have to walk beside your unit and go straight across.

 

[whoDEANie]

I think when it comes to crossing the highway,that it would[or should] be the same as in Alberta. You have to walk beside your unit and go straight across.

Not true, it IS legal to cross a highway in Alberta. Section 120.3 of the Alberta Traffic Safty Act:

A driver of an off-highway vehicle may drive the off-highway
vehicle across any highway, including the roadway, parking lane or
sidewalk portion of the highway, as the case may be, if

(a) the driver stops the off-highway vehicle before driving it
on the highway or portion of the highway to be crossed,

(b) all passengers disembark from the off-highway vehicle
and any vehicle or thing attached to it before the driver
commences to drive the off-highway vehicle across the
highway,

(c) the driver yields the right of way to all other vehicles and
persons on the highway,

(d) the driver drives the off-highway vehicle across the
highway or portion of the highway to be crossed
​

(i) by the most direct and shortest route of travel
available to the driver, or
(ii) if the most direct and shortest route of travel
available to the driver is not the safest route, with
reasonable care and caution by the safest and most
direct route available to the driver,​

and

(e) the driver waits to proceed across the highway until the
condition of the traffic on the highway being entered on
and crossed is such that the off-highway vehicle can enter
on and cross the highway in safety.
​

 

[whoDEANie]

Apparently it IS also leagal to cross in BC as of Jan 1, 2012. ...with some conditions. Here's an excerpt from the BC Off Road Vehcile Management Framwork:

Starting January 1, 2012, snowmobile and snow vehicle operators will no longer need to obtain a police-issued operation permit if making a direct crossing across a highway from a point on a resource road or an authorized trail where there is a stop sign or traffic control signal. All other Motor Vehicle Act requirements on highways remain the same. Note: snow vehicles include utility terrain vehicles with tracks and ATVs with tracks/skis.

The police issued operation permit will continue to be required at all other on-highway situations. For incidental operation on a highway, snowmobiles and snow vehicles must be registered, licensed with a “Restricted Plate” and have basic insurance with ICBC. When in doubt, ORV operators should contact local law enforcement to inquire about whether an operation permit is required.

Government will continue to work closely with our key stakeholder associations as the laws for these crossing are developed to ensure they address the range of ORV riders. Candidate locations for these designated ORV public road crossings will be identified in collaboration with our stakeholders.

ORV riders who choose the option for blanket Province-wide authorization to cross at designated public roads/highways or portions of the road right of ways, are required to have the following: an annual vehicle licence, insurance, and a valid driver’s licence. Additional conditions include restrictions on the number of passengers and what is towed behind the ORV; these conditions will enhance safety and better harmonizes with road crossing conditions in Alberta.

ORV riders, including vehicles for non-recreational use, who want to cross at other locations that are not designated will continue to have the option to obtain a temporary operation permit from the local police or RCMP detachment.

Government will continue to work closely with our key stakeholder associations as the laws for these crossing are developed to ensure they address the range of ORV riders. Candidate locations for these designated ORV public road crossings will be identified in collaboration with our stakeholders.

 

[takethebounce]

Also a OHV not registered in BC but elsewhere is able to operate in BC for not more than 30 days. Yes you must provide proof of registration or if your from a place that does not require it you can get a special permit.

Search motor vehicle (all terrain) act for bc. I am on my phone and copying a link is a pain. Section 4(3)

It also refers to people not operating on or across a highway unless blah blah blah is met. There is a clause in the Transportation Act 66(1) (a) (b) and (c) that talks about crossing highways which could be interpreted many ways.

Basically you need to carry a copy of the motor vehicle act, the Transportation act and the all terrain act when driving a ohv in BC.

Don't forget a snowmobile act for winter.




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[tukernater]

I think it's funny it turns in to B.C Alberta thing? ,How about a Valmount and alberta thing. Every bitch i've herd on this site was valmount,revy and mcbride reach out boys there just as good of spots to play hassel FREE in B.C.Just saying.

 

[cobraclone]

After reading the original post and hearing everyone with a similar experiences vent about small town, small man syndrome police officers bullying people around because they feel they can, one has to ask the question, Is there any recourse for these officers doing this? If anyone stands up for themselves and reasonably points out that they are 100% correct in a situation with the police such as these, what can they do? If they try to seize my machine because im riding in Vale on day 6 without valid B.C. insurance and registration after 5 days, can i stop them without going to jail??
Its frustrating sometimes that we are forced to deal with these situations sometimes because of the sport we love and there is little to no recourse for the people who abuse not only the power but also the responsibility that is bestowed upon them!

 

[whoDEANie]

I think it's funny it turns in to B.C Alberta thing? ,How about a Valmount and alberta thing. Every bitch i've herd on this site was valmount,revy and mcbride reach out boys there just as good of spots to play hassel FREE in B.C.Just saying.

...wouldn't be much activity on this site if there was nothing to bitch about.

 

[HotShotHarry]

Thanks for the info Dean, I was thinking later that it would be interesting to operate and walk beside a side by side at the same time. I have heard numerous complaints about a particular officer operating out of Valemount from various people. I dont know if this officer is one and the same. Its good to hear that there is some flexability when it comes to crossing a highway in BC.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

Thanks for the info Dean, I was thinking later that it would be interesting to operate and walk beside a side by side at the same time. I have heard numerous complaints about a particular officer operating out of Valemount from various people. I dont know if this officer is one and the same. Its good to hear that there is some flexability when it comes to crossing a highway in BC.

You do realize just as the police pull you over and question you asking your name, you have the legal right to obtain their rank and name as well.


IIRC, if you are going to cross a highway as stated above you have to have reg and insurance as you are now not on private land,.. same as driving in the ditches. If I get to it I will call by sister at the RCMP branch here and get her to email me to specifics.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

Not true, it IS legal to cross a highway in Alberta. Section 120.3 of the Alberta Traffic Safty Act:

I just verified this,.. point form

License/registration
STRAIGHT across,.. NO traveling 2 wheels on shoulder, 2 on side,.. NOT on highway at all <---she said very enforced
Ditches are legal

 

[AreWeThereYet]

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