By Ryan Pilon

When weather heats up, so do complaints about ATV usage

Jun 12, 2011 | 4:00 PM

All-terrain vehicles (ATV's) are a popular way to get around during this time of year.

However, there are many complaints of people not using them properly.

Cpl. Mike Poirier, with the Prince Albert RCMP, said they've already received a number of complaints this season, mostly from the Red Wing area where ATV's are driven on streets and highways.

“You will have young people using ATV’s in the corporate limits of the city, or the town, or the village of where they live,” said Poirier.

“The noise, not observing the traffic signs, they’re not stopping at stop signs, they’ll be driving from sidewalks to streets.”

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Poirier said ATV's aren't registered in Saskatchewan, so it's illegal to drive them on streets and highways. Doing so can result in a $580 ticket and the ATV being seized.

Poirier said there are also cases where ATV's are driven on farmland, where they damage crops and fences.

Despite having handed out numerous tickets already this season, he said it is difficult to catch those on ATV’s.

“The problem with ATV’s though, is they are off-terrain type of vehicles, so for us to be efficient in apprehending violators is quite difficult,” said Poirier.

That is why the Prince Albert Police Service has its own police ATV, to make it easier to catch those using ATV’s within city limits.

“Our ATV, like any police vehicle, is exempt from the by-law, so we like to take it out on the trails, so we do take it out as often as possible on the riverbank,” said Special Const. Kelleen Wolfe.

“We’ll bring it across the river, just kind of ride around and talk to people and make people aware of the by-law. We can take it to the back bushes and stuff where people like to go, and we can ticket and seize from there.”

Wolfe said she hasn’t handed out any tickets yet this season.

rpilon@panow.com