During this upcoming winter season, The Town of Happy Valley Goose Bay wants all residents to think safety while enjoying the trails on your snowmobile this season.
Several things to remember:
1. Always check Ice conditions before you enter
2. Carry a throw bag
3. Carry a first aid kit
4. Check Weather
5. Dress in layers, and for weather conditions
6. Always let someone know where you are going and when you will return
7. Make sure equipment is in good running order
8. Be prepared
Example of some of the Town of Happy Valley Goose Bay Snow Vehicle Regulations By-Laws that must be followed:
Equipment
1. All Snow Vehicles must be registered in accordance with the Motorized Snow Vehicles and All Terrain Vehicles Act, RSNL 1990, c M-20 as amended, and the Motorized Snow Vehicle and All Terrain Vehicle Regulations, CNLR 1163/96 as amended, and be equipped with the following:
(a) An adequate head lamp;
(b) An adequate tail lamp;
(c) An amber reflector affixed to the front of the Snow Vehicle or with one amber reflector affixed to each side of the Snow Vehicle at or towards the front of it;
(d) At least one read reflector at the rear of the Snow Vehicle; either separate from or incorporated within the tail required under subsection (c);
(e) An adequate and efficient operating braking system; and,
(f) A Muffler designed by the manufacturer for use on such vehicle.
2. A person shall not alter or modify an approved Snow Vehicle muffler in any manner that results in an increased noise level when the vehicle is in operation.
3. Any cost incurred to obtain a professional opinion on whether a muffler has been altered or modified in contravention of Section 4 shall be borne by the operator of the Snow Vehicle when the muffler is found to be altered or modified.
4. Notwithstanding section 4, an operator may replace a defective muffler with a substitute provided the substitute meets the specifications and design criteria of the manufacturer of the original muffler;
Prohibited Operations
5. A person shall not operate a Snow Vehicle without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons or property.
6. A person shall not operate a Snow Vehicle in any area of the Town which is:
(a) designated as a park or playground;
(b) a sidewalk or designated ski path;
(c) private property, without the express permission of the owner or occupant of that property;
(d) the property of any hospital, health centre or senior citizen’s home;
(e) within fifteen (15) metres of the airport terminal buildings or the ends and sides of airport runways or ramps;
(f) an area where signs prohibit the use and operation of a Snow Vehicle; or,
(g) where persons engage in skiing, skating, tobogganing or in another outdoor recreational activity so as to create hazard or danger to those persons or their property.
7. A person shall not operate a Snow Vehicle in such a manner as to:
(a) constitute a nuisance or create annoyance to residents or other persons;
(b) be hazardous to himself/herself or to other persons or property;
(c) drive, harass, chase, run over, injure or kill any wildlife or domestic animal(s); or,
(d) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in a manner that constitutes danger or hazard to the operators or passengers of other Snow Vehicles being operated in the same area.
8. A person other than the operator of a Snow Vehicles shall not ride on the Snow Vehicle unless:
(a) the Snow Vehicle is designed and equipped by the manufacturer to carry more than one person; and
(b) the person other than the operator rides on a seat attached to the Snow Vehicle and designed to carry a passenger.
9. A person shall not operate a Snow Vehicle after sunset or at anytime when fog or other atmospheric conditions reduce visibility, unless the Snow Vehicle is equipped as follows:
(a) with a headlight at the front that projects a white light for a distance of a least sixty (60) metres; and,
(b) with a tail light at the rear that shows a red light visible at a distance of a least sixty (60) metres behind the vehicle.
10. A person shall not tow any sleigh, trailer or other object whatsoever behind a Snow Vehicle within the Town in such a manner as to be hazardous to himself/herself or other persons or property.
Age of Operators
11. A person under the age of 13 years shall not drive a Snow Vehicle unless they are accompanied by a person who is 19 years of age or older. For the purposes of this section, an operator of a Snow Vehicle is accompanied and supervised when the other person has visual and voice communication with the operator.
Penalties
12. A person who contravenes or fails to comply with these Regulations is upon summary conviction guilty of an offence and is liable:
(a) for a first offence to a fine of not less than $100.00 and not more than $500.00 or to a term of imprisonment of not more than one month or to both the fine and the imprisonment; and,
(b) for a subsequent offence to a fine of not less than $500.00 and not more than $1,000 or to a term of imprisonment or not more than 3 months or to both the fine and imprisonment.
(c) the owner of a Snow Vehicle shall incur all penalties imposed for contravention of these Regulations, unless the Snow Vehicles was, at the time of the offence, taken without the owner’s knowledge or expressed consent;
(d) the operator of a Snow Vehicle within the Town, without the knowledge or expressed consent of the owner, shall incur all penalties imposed for any contravention of these Regulations;
(e) the penalty for an offence under these Regulations where the offender is under 13 years of age shall be assessed against the parent or guardian of the offender.
Remember, while in Town Limits respect fellow residents and trail riders alike. The Town wants you to BE SAFE AND HAVE FUN!
Full copy of these regulations can be found on the Town of Happy Valley Goose Bay website at:
http://www.happyvalley-goosebay.com/home/town_regulations.htm