B.C. bans off-road vehicles in fire centres, violators face steep fines
While off-road vehicles in B.C. might be popular this time of year, you won’t be able to enjoy the activity for the next couple of months.
On Monday, Aug. 10, the B.C. government announced that it is prohibiting off-road vehicles in many fire centres, including the Kamloops, Southeast, and parts of the Cariboo and Coastal Fire Centres.
And if you decide to ignore this ban, you could face some pretty steep fines — a violation ticket of up to $1,150. If this activity contributes to a wildfire, you might be ordered to pay for all firefighting and associated costs.
The Province said that given the hot, dry weather, this is a “prevention and mitigation tactic.”
“Off-road vehicles can lead to unintentional ignitions that can spark wildfires,” they said in a release.
Government of B.C.
The ban includes all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and off-road side-by-sides, intended for recreation use, on Crown land.
However, it doesn’t apply to private land or national parks. It also doesn’t apply to emergency response or agriculture and commercial users who use off-road vehicles for their occupation.
In a press release from the Coastal Fire Centre, it stated that the only exceptions in its jurisdiction are the North Island/Mid Coast, Mid Island, and the Sunshine Coast.
A map of the Coastal Fire Centre, showing what regions are affected by the off-road vehicle ban. (Coastal Fire Centre)
The Coastal Fire Centre said this ban is ongoing until Oct. 9 at noon, or until it rescinds the order.
To report an off-road violation, you can call the RAPP (Report all Poachers and Polluters) line at 1 877 952-7277 or online.