Question for OHV COP

RXN

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Hey quick question for ya.

I was sledding in Ministik today, and got talking with one of the locals who just drove down to check out the new "no ATV" sign.

anyways he was telling me that because it is crown land they can stage at the staging area and quad on the lakes and shore lines. they just can't touch our groomed trails.

Whats your take?
 

moyiesledhead

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Don't know about Alberta, but that's the way it is here. Sleds don't have exclusive use. That's why we usually push up a big snowbank at our trailhead when we start grooming. Too late this year though. Had pickup ruts all over our groomed trail last week.
 

jbb

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wrong wrong and wrong. the law is. once a rd is no longer plowed. it is deemed off limits to wheeled traffic. drive your truck or quad on a groomed trail in bc and get caught. the clubs can and will have you charged. once that rd has been deemed closed, thats when the snowmobile clubs take over.
 
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moyiesledhead

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wrong wrong and wrong. the law is. once a rd is no longer plowed. it is deemed off limits to wheeled traffic. drive your truck or quad on a groomed trail in bc and get caught. the clubs can and will have you charged. once that rd has been deemed closed, thats when the snowmobile clubs take over.

Respectfully.....WRONG! Trust me, we've tried.
 

DDrake

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I think that the area in question is some sort of sanctuary that is closed to all motorized traffic during spring/summer/fall and only open to sleds once a base snow layer of 12" is reached so normal laws and rules for crown land use don't apply. I think that the local club and ASA have a land use agreement with the Alberta goverment. Not sure if I got this completely right but that is how I think I read it on a different threadon here somewhere.
 

DDrake

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I think that the area in question is some sort of sanctuary that is closed to all motorized traffic during spring/summer/fall and only open to sleds once a base snow layer of 12" is reached so normal laws and rules for crown land use don't apply. I think that the local club and ASA have a land use agreement with the Alberta goverment. Not sure if I got this completely right but that is how I think I read it on a different threadon here somewhere.

Yup. I goggled Ministik Lake and the area is a bird sanctuary.
 

Trashy

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Long and short of it... Ministik is protected land and there are rules and regulations to follow even for sleds. There is adequate signage recognized under the traffic safety act as a sign. These signs state QUADS PROHIBITED. Riding would be a violation and result in a fine under section 57 Rules and Regulations of the Road costing the violator 172 dollar fine. It could potentially be considered trespassing resulting in a 287.00 fine and arrest. There would also be a civil case against the violator for damages caused to the land.
Do you know when that law has changed? We used to ride Ministik all the time with Honda Odyessy's and our quads, but that was also about 20 years ago. As long as we were registered and insured, we never had a problem. Just a question out of curiosity?
 

finkous

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we used to do alot of things 20 yrs ago that were not allowed... laws are getting more enforced these days
 

Ministik Man

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Originally Posted by OHV COP Long and short of it... Ministik is protected land and there are rules and regulations to follow even for sleds. There is adequate signage recognized under the traffic safety act as a sign. These signs state QUADS PROHIBITED. Riding would be a violation and result in a fine under section 57 Rules and Regulations of the Road costing the violator 172 dollar fine. It could potentially be considered trespassing resulting in a 287.00 fine and arrest. There would also be a civil case against the violator for damages caused to the land.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These Rules/laws need to be regulated
You can not have multiple users on a trail at the same time
There needs to be select dates for users - Snowmobiles only December 15 to March 1- that is only 2 1/2 months to enjoy our sport.......
QUAD rubber tires absolutely DESTROYS a groomed snowmobile trail - even a COUPLE of quads - Province Wide - No quads on Groomed snowmobile Trails
The ruts left from the tires is a severe danger and hazard to snowmobilers
If damage persists then there is no point in supporting/operating/clearing/grooming/funding a dangerous snowmobile trail and the club/trail will close
Remember every trail is operated/manage/maintained/funded/groomed by VOLUNTEERS!!!!!!!!!!
(Around 3000 hours/year per trail - at a huge cost to the volunteers - not just in their time but money on gas/vehicles/food/equipment/club expenses)
Remove the volunteers - you have no clubs/associations and trail systems---- PERIOD
Make it so the clubs can not even uses their trails then they stop managing/maintaining the club & the trails close - then NO ONE rides - motorized trails become walking & Horse trails - and this has happened to so many trails over the past 40 years - just ask the 35 snowmobile clubs that have closed/folded over the past 40 years - lose the trail - loses the club!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do you know when that law has changed? We used to ride Ministik all the time with Honda Odyessy's and our quads, but that was also about 20 years ago. As long as we were registered and insured, we never had a problem. Just a question out of curiosity?

Most all of these laws have been in existence for ever but as long as there are NO complaints they are not enforced..
The Alberta Government has intentionally pitted ATVs against Snowmobilers to fight out trail usage between each user group
Example:
Quebec- 50,000 KM of organized snowmobile trails - SUPPORTED & FUNDED by Gov Tourism Department & Fuel Taxes
Ontario - 50,000 KM same as above (a $5,000,000.00 bonus in 2011 just to improve/upgrade snowmobile trails)
Saskatchewan - 30,000 KM same as above
ALBERTA - 5000km but NOT recognized / funded / or supported by the ALBERTA Government - It has taken 40 years to come up with a TRAILS strategy DRAFT - The 2004 Alberta Recreational Review Study has not Even made it into reading in the Legislation yet, 10 year later

So in the mean time Alberta Environmental Sustainable Resources (AESRD) states all snowmobile clubs are to regulate / monitor/ control ATV use on Multi-use trail system

So if quads go on a groomed trail it may be the snowmobile club that is left to Regulate/Monitor/control the quad uses -

So until the Alberta government comes up with a proper legislated Trail Management Plan the user groups are left to work it out owe selves - If unable to and the managing club withdraws from AESRD as a user of that trail system it will most likely revert to a NON MOTORIZED Trail
***** PAST History predicts what AESRD will do in the future -- and that is to close the trail down...***
 
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fidorama

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who's to say I haven't??? It was just a question! Is there a fine or not? I want to know! I have friends not from here, and if the one time they come out with their sled, and ride out there, get caught without a pass, what's the consequence?

a lack of response would make me think there is no consequence
 
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