With hunting season upcoming, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Mattawa Detachment has had many questions surrounding boundaries for off-road vehicles (ORV) in the Mattawa area.
The Off-Roads Vehicles Act (ORVA), the Highway Traffic Act (HTA), Ontario Regulations, and municipal by-laws enable ORV's to operate on certain local and provincial highways.
Ontario Regulation 316/03 includes a list of highways where ORV's are permitted to operate. Highway 17 in Mattawa which includes Valois Drive, McConnell Street and John Street, is not listed in this regulation. This means that ORV's are not permitted to travel on any of the roads above, including the shoulder and ditch portions of these roads.
Highway 533, which includes Main Street in Mattawa, is listed in the highways that are permitted for ORV's.
The HTA and ORVA allow for an ORV to drive directly across a highway even if the highway is prohibited.
For further information, please speak to the Town of Mattawa for local by-laws regarding the operation of off-road vehicles. You can also search the Highway Traffic Act and Ontario Regulation 316/03 online.
The OPP is reminding riders to exercise caution and ride within laws that are designed to keep everyone safe while operating any type of off-road vehicle. The OPP is committed to promoting safe and responsible recreation.
