NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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Snowmobile patrol officers from the Southern Georgian Bay OPP Detachment were out and very visible to riders on open North Simcoe area OFSC trails over the weekend, checking riders for signs of impairment and their sleds for required 2024 registration validation stickers & proof of insurance along with 2024 OFSC trail passes.
Officers were also having an ear for modified exhaust systems and an eye for sleds trespassing on closed trails or farmers planted fields as these two issues are well known to raise the ire of landowners and neighbours to busy trail routes.
As a result of the patrols on Friday, Saturday and Sunday past, officers checked over 300 sleds and riders resulting in 33 riders being educated and 24 riders being charged for a variety of offences involving modified exhaust systems, sled registration validation, OFSC trail passes, suspended drivers' licence and speeding.
In an effort to improve trail safety for all users, riders can expect to see OPP officers on the trail system day and night hours as well as road patrol officers conducting Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E.) programs at trail heads. The Detachment also works with area safety partners such as MADD Canada, Arrive Alive, The North Simcoe Safe and Sober Awareness Committee and area snowmobile clubs, Georgian Bay Snow Riders (GBSR) and the Baxter Snow Riders (BSR) and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC).
The sport of snowmobiling has many associated inherent risks, dangers and hazards caused by the changing terrain & environment, your machine, and others on their machines to name a few. To help reduce these risks, riders are reminded to always check the Interactive Trail Guide before heading on the trails and wear all of the required safety equipment including floater suits if travelling on frozen water surfaces. It is highly recommended to have a fully charged cell phone with you, let a family member know where your heading to and a return time, load a location app on your cell phone such as What3Words and/or the Interactive Trail Guide and remember that "No Ice Is Safe Ice" . Self rescue maybe your only way out for reasons depicted in the following link - https://twitter.com/OPP_News/status/1342817627077488641
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