Hay River is planning a new ATV and snowmobile bylaw to address safety concerns and define where off-road vehicles can be used in the community.
At a recent council meeting, town senior administrator Glenn Smith said Hay River currently has no ATV bylaw but previously had one that was repealed in 2015.
Smith told council that while the territorial All-Terrain Vehicles Act sets out rules for ATV use, it does not address some community-specific concerns like ATV and snowmobile use on trails, green spaces, ditches, and areas where vehicle use may create safety concerns, dust, or damage to infrastructure.
“One of the key areas for us is that there’s no clear definition of where you would like or not like ATVs on green spaces, such as trail systems. We receive a lot of concerns and complaints about those uses,” he said. “But at this point, there’s no legislation that guides that – no local legislation.”
Smith said the town has the ability to introduce local regulations under territorial legislation, but he recommended engaging with residents to consider where off-road vehicles should be allowed or restricted.
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Deputy mayor Keith Dohey said the town plans to seek input from both residents and councillors before drafting any ATV bylaw.
“There’s lots of room to work there that would give us something, that probably yourself and I could live with, and others could probably live with,” Dohey said.
“There’s still a lot of room to use ATVs in the community and around the community that doesn’t necessarily have to be in a playground or a public space like Chamber Park.”
Along with addressing concerns about where ATVs and snowmobiles can be used, Smith said legislation can also consider helmet requirements, age restrictions, enforcement and education.
Dohey said the community has changed significantly since the previous bylaw was repealed about a decade ago. Rather than relying on enforcement, he said, the goal should be to encourage responsible riding while preserving ATV access where appropriate.
