'Not all bad apples': ATV federation president says more enforcement needed
Of 52,000 registered ATVs in the province, only 21,300 are federation members
In response to concerns from the newly formed New Brunswick Safety and Property Rights Alliance, the New Brunswick All-Terrain Vehicle Federation president says while they share many of the same concerns regarding safety, it's unfair to paint all ATV drivers with the same brush.
"We're not all idiot drivers. We are responsible drivers, many of us are," said Roger Daigle.
The new group, which started out of Sussex, aims to stop unsafe and illegal ATV activities across New Brunswick.
Daigle said the two groups are working for the same purpose — to keep everyone safe and educate ATV drivers on the correct rules. But he said it's unfair for the group to say all ATVers.
"We have come so far, and worked so hard to get our federation where we are today and to have this, painting us with the same brush still, I don't accept that. It's a hard, hard pill to swallow."
When it comes to ATVs not being allowed on the road, Daigle said there are many places in the province where ATV drivers have access to certain areas and are allowed out on the road.
"What we have is a highway usage permit and this gives us access to go to motels, to restaurants and gas stations."
He added they also used roads to connect from one ATV trail to another.
Under a microscope
"When a club does apply … we're practically under a microscope to make sure all the safety aspects have been looked after and it's safe for the motoring public."
Daigle said the province's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure should be putting up signs to show ATVs are legally allowed on roads or highways. He believes this is what's leading to the confusion.
"Even the police officers in some places don't know that ATVs do have legal rights to be on certain sections of roads."
Daigle listed a number of areas in the province that have highway usage permits. He confirmed the ATV club in Sussex had applied for a permit to have access to the area that John Cushnie, president of the New Brunswick Safety and Property Rights Alliance, expressed concern over.
Daigle said while the 55 clubs in the province have 21,300 members, there are 52,000 registered ATVs. "That means there's 30,700 ATVers out there that don't belong to the federation.
Bad apples
"Now, I'm not saying that we don't have bad apples within our federation members, we do. But we try and educate these people."
Daigle pointed out the non-members were also good people and there's bad apples wherever you go.
"You will always have bad apples, you can't fix stupid."
Daigle said more enforcement is needed and having 10 officers for the whole province is not enough. He said more are needed to help stop the irresponsible ATVers that are wrecking trails, driving on trails without a trail permit and destroying warming huts.
With files from Shift