“At no time is it allowable for ATVs to be operated on city streets.”
Timmins Police communications coordinator Marc Depatie says ATVs were not part of the trial for snowmobiles on certain streets which has obviously expired, anyway.
Patrol officers have noticed an upswing lately in all-terrain vehicles being driven on public streets. Members of the public have been complaining, too.
Depatie says using an ATV on a street can endanger pedestrians, interrupt traffic flow and put the ATV rider at risk.
They’re all-terrain vehicles, not all-surface vehicles. They aren’t designed to be operated safely on a hard surface such as pavement.
“The tires are designed for softer turf,” he points out. “The suspensions I’m told are rather rigid so that you can potentially be thrown from your vehicle. They are more tip oriented because of the rigid surface that you’re on in terms of asphalt as compared to soft services and turf.”
“Operators that are found to be operating their ATV on city streets,” Depatie adds, “run the risk of significant monetary fines, court appearances if need be and to have the vehicle removed at their expense.”