An insurance office in Williams Lake said it has seen about three or four people arriving each day to register off-road vehicles under the province’s new registration system since it kicked off Monday.
“I had expected to see more, but it’s not mandatory until June 2, 2015,” Western Financial Group’s Sandy MacDonald told the Tribune Wednesday.
A one-time combined plate and registration cost of $48 will reduce implementation costs and allow off-vehicle owners to register at any of the 900-plus ICBC insurance brokers in the province, the government said in a press release.
The government also said the changes will allow off-road vehicle operators greater access to highways, including the ability to cross a highway without having to obtain an operation permit if the crossing is controlled by a stop sign or traffic light. Cross a highway where local police authorize through an operation permit. Load or unload in a parking lot without an operation permit. Obtain an operation permit with an extended term of up to two years.
MacDonald said she hopes the registration program will help cut down the number of thefts of off-road vehicles.
To date, the Off-Road Vehicle Management Framework has been implemented in stages, the government said.
“Future regulations will follow that will flesh out ORV rules of operation, safety standards, penalties and conditions of use for a wide range of modern ORVs, including snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles or quads, dirt bikes and side-by-sides such as Rhinos and Argos.”