Snowmobiles/ATVs/Boats

Snowmobiles:

Before you operate your snowmobile in British Columbia, it must the registered with ICBC. ICBC will issue an owner’s certificate and two numbered owner’s decals. The decals must be displayed on either side of the cowl of the snow machine or in another conspicuous place on each side.

If you bring your snowmobile into BC as a visitor for winter recreation, you are exempt from having to register it with ICBC if it is properly registered in your home province or state and you are not using it in BC for more than 30 days. If your home province or state does not require you to register your snowmobile, you must obtain a special permit from the director of the Fish and Wildlife Branch for a period not exceeding 30 days.

If you intend to cross a highway or operate your snowmobile in a parking lot, you must also obtain both an operation permit from the police having jurisdiction in the area of operation and licence and insurance from ICBC. A restricted licence plate will be issued to be displayed on the machine in addition to the registration decals.

Snowmobile rental agencies must register snow machines before they are rented to customers. A duplicate of this rental dealer’s certificate must be carried and produced to an enforcement officer in the same manner as an owner’s certificate.

Reference Links:

Motor Vehicle (All Terrain) Act – Revised Statutes of BC

Snowmobile Regulation – Motor Vehicle (All Terrain) Act

Snowmobiles – ICBC

Off Road Vehicle Management Framework – Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

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All Terrain Vehicles:

Operation prohibited without registration

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, a person must not operate or authorize or permit another person to operate an all terrain vehicle unless he or she holds a certificate of registration for that all terrain vehicle in the prescribed form and unless the prescribed identification is displayed on the machine.

(2) A person under the age of 16 years is not entitled to register an all terrain vehicle.

(3) A person under the age of 18 years is not entitled to register an all terrain vehicle unless he or she deposits with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia the written consent of his or her parent or guardian to the registration of the all terrain vehicle.

(4) Within 14 days following a transfer of ownership or destruction or abandonment of an all terrain vehicle, the owner must deliver to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia written notice of the transfer of ownership, destruction or abandonment in a form prescribed by the corporation, together with the certificate of registration.

Operation of an all terrain vehicle

(1) A person must not operate an all terrain vehicle

(a) in a careless, reckless or negligent manner so as to endanger or cause injury or damage to a person or property of another,

(b) in a tree nursery or planting, in a manner that may damage or destroy growing stock,

(d) on private property without the consent of the owner, lessee or occupant of it,

(e) in such a manner as to drive, harass, chase, run over, injure or kill wildlife or a domestic animal, or

(f) in areas, seasons or periods of time prohibited by the regulations.

(2) An operator must, on request of the owner or occupant of property on which he or she is found, stop and identify himself or herself and produce for inspection his or her certificate of registration, and must promptly, on request, leave that property.

(3) Unless he or she holds a valid and subsisting driver’s licence issued under the Motor Vehicle Act, a person must not operate an all terrain vehicle on or across a highway as defined in the Transportation Act or on any portion of the right of way of a highway

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Boating Safety:

The Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations require that all operators of pleasure craft fitted with a motor have proof of competency and proof of age on board at all times.

The Regulations were phased in over the past few years and are now summarized as follows:

As of September 15, 2009, all operators of any motorized craft including those of less than 4 m (including personal watercraft) are required to have proof of competency.

The Age – Horsepower Restrictions prohibit operators under the age of 16 from operating recreational vessels above specified horsepower limits:

Children under the age of 12 and not directly supervised by someone 16 years of age or older can operate a recreational vessel with no more than 10 hp (7.5 KW).
Youth between 12 years of age and under 16 years of age and not directly supervised by someone 16 years of age or older can operate a recreational vessel with no more than 40 hp (30 KW).
Only persons 16 years of age or older can operate a personal watercraft (PWC) regardless of supervision.

Shore-Line Speed Restrictions

When boating on any lake British Columbia the unposted speed limit is 10km/h (6mph) within 30 meters (100 ft) from shore. The exception to this limit is in the case of waterskiing, where the tow boat launches and drops off skiers by heading directly away from or into the shore.

Driving a Boat Under the Influence of Alcohol

Boating while impaired is an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada.
Operators with more than 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood are liable to the following fines :

1st offence: at least $600 fine
2nd offence: at least 14 days of imprisonment
3rd offence: at least 90 days of imprisonment
There is no limit to the fines; the lowest is $600
If someone is injured or killed, the sentence may exceed 10 years imprisonment
Insurance may not cover you.

Canadians may lose their driver’s licence or be prohibited from operating a vessel for 3 months, depending on the charge. You will also have a criminal record that could prevent you from being bonded or will bar you from travel to many countries

Consumption of Alcohol on Boats

Alcohol may be consumed on board the pleasure craft if it meets all of the following conditions:

The vessel has permanent sleeping facilities
The vessel has permanent cooking facilities
The vessel has a permanent toilet
The vessel is anchored or secured alongside a dock

Other Boating Violations

The following boating offences are also in violation of the Criminal Code of Canada:

Operating a boat in a manner that is dangerous to the public.
Operating a boat while impaired by drugs
Not keeping watch of a person in tow (water-skiers, etc)
Towing a person after dark
Knowingly operating an unseaworthy vessel.

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GLARA - Green Lake Area Ratepayers Association