Here’s what OPP wants you to know this snowmobile season

FILE - OPP patrolling snowmobiling trails in the Southern Georgian Bay.

Snowmobile officers with Southern Georgian Bay OPP logged more than 200 kilometres over the weekend, patrolling the trails of North Simcoe as part of Ontario Snowmobile Safety Week.

During their patrols, officers checked more than 250 snowmobilers for proper equipment, necessary licences, registrations, and trail passes. They also conducted six separate spot checkpoints, screening over 100 snowmobilers for signs of impairment.

Balancing rider education with enforcement, officers addressed various issues encountered on the trails, often under extreme weather conditions.

Throughout the weekend, police say 26 riders received warnings for various offences, predominantly related to failing to have a currently validated ownership permit for their snowmobile. Nine riders face undisclosed charges.

Fortunately, police say no crashes were reported or investigated in the area.

Registration Stickers

Provincial police say the most asked question they get since the start of the snowmobile season has been whether riders need to buy new registration stickers for their snowmobiles.

“Short answer is yes,” OPP stated.

According to the Motorized Snow Vehicle Act, a permit that is issued or validated is in force during the period of time prescribed by the regulations.

Additionally, every motorized snow vehicle must display the registration number on both sides of the cowling in a clearly visible position and display evidence of the issue or validation of the permit on the vehicle.

Failure to comply can result in hefty fines ranging from $200 to $1,000.

To renew snow vehicle registration, visit a Service Ontario centre in person or online.

No Ice is Safe Ice

Police remind snowmobilers that no ice is safe ice and to ride with safety front of mind.

“It also goes without saying that it is still early in the cold weather winter season for local ice conditions to be up to expectations for ice surface travel by foot or by machine,” OPP noted. “Check the ice surface or inquire with local residents, ice hut operators, weather stations or any other reliable sources before heading out and possibly going through into the frigid waters below.”

Provincial police concluded, “You may be risking your life, the lives of others possibly with you and that of emergency service responders tasked to rescue you, or worse to locate and remove you from the lake.”