P.E.I. introducing $50 annual ATV registration fee to help fund trail development and maintenance
P.E.I. ATV users will soon add annual registration fees to their list of expenses.
A forthcoming amendment to the Off-Highway Vehicle Act will require owners to pay a $50 fee per vehicle every year to drive their quads, side-by-side and other vehicles on Island trails.
Under the existing Act, the fee need only be paid on purchase and again if the vehicle is sold or transferred.
The adjustments will see the P.E.I. ATV Federation and its registered clubs receive 80 per cent or $70,000 annually of the fee revenue, or whichever of the two sums is greater, allowing it to connect and build private trails and support public safety and other initiatives.
“By allowing annual registration for off-highway vehicles, registration funds will be allocated to trail development and maintenance, environmental stewardship initiatives and enhanced safety education for riders,” said federation president Jody Jackson.
“This partnership will allow us to continue to grow our sport in a safe, sustainable manner across our great province.”
The penalty for not abiding by the regulations includes fines from $200 to $2,000, depending on the offence under the Act.
The amendment passed its second reading in the legislature on Tuesday and, if passed, will bring the new regulations into effect later this year.
The province says a similar funding agreement exists with the P.E.I. Snowmobile Association.
Earlier this month, the province denied ATV users access to the Confederation Trail, offering instead to provide the federation with funding of up to $100,000 to create a comprehensive map of the new trail system with consultation of residents, businesses and the province.