Timmins Police would rather educate than prosecute, but if snowmobilers keep ignoring traffic lights when they cross roads, they will lay charges.
Communications co-ordinator Marc Depatie says the TPS has received several complaints. The most frequent one is about the intersection of Airport Road and Lafleur Drive.
“The traffic lights are to be adhered to by operators of snowmobiles, no question,” Depatie states. “ They have the obligation to conform to the Highway Traffic Act as they enter into that intersection, as they become part of traffic.
“This is a very busy intersection and it’s controlled by traffic lights for a reason. So we need the snowmobilers to adhere to what is required of them for their own safety.”
Depatie says there have been no snowmobile-versus-car collisions yet this winter, but several close calls.