City police have issued a news release asking snowmobilers to respect the laws of the municipality.
Where snowmobiles are permitted
You may drive your registered snowmobile on your own property, on the private trails of organizations to which you belong, on private property when you have the owner’s permission or in permitted City zones. (see map).
Snowmobiles are only permitted on public highways when you are crossing it directly, provided that you come to a complete stop before crossing and that you yield the right of way to all vehicles on the highway before doing so.
Where snowmobiles are not permitted
In accordance with the City of North Bay’s municipal by-law, snowmobilers are not permitted to drive:
• on sidewalks, pathways, footpaths, or other pedestrian ways within the city limits;
• in any parks, except those areas illustrated;
• in any school yard or playground within the city;
• on any lake within 500 feet of the closest building on the land, unless you are driving to a direct point on the land to a permitted area, or vise versa.
Permits required to drive a snowmobile in Ontario
You can drive a snowmobile if you have a valid Ontario driver’s licence (any class).
If you do not have a driver’s licence and you are 12 years of age or older, a valid motorized snow-vehicle operator’s licence (MSVOL) will allow you to drive on trails established and maintained by a recreational organization for the use of snowmobiles.
However, you must be 16 years of age or older and have a driver’s licence or a motorized snow-vehicle operator’s licence to drive a snowmobile along or across a public road where snowmobiles are allowed.
Permits required to drive a snowmobile on approved trails
An OFSC (Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs) snowmobile trail permit is required to be displayed on the windshield of your snowmobile in order to ride on the trails. For information on pricing and availability of the permits, visit the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs at http://www.ofsc.on.ca or the Near North Trail Association at http://www.nnta.ca.
