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As of November 1st, 2015, the B.C. government has made licence plates mandatory for quads, dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles, requiring helmets and restricting use by children under 16.

The B.C. legislation imposes $230 fine for driving an unlicensed off-road vehicle, and a $368 fine for careless operation. For some offences under the Off-Road Vehicle Act related to reckless use or environmental damage, penalties can go as high as a $5,000 fine and six months in jail.

Forests Minister Steve Thomson said the $48 licence fee applies only once when a vehicle is purchased, and was set to recover the costs of the program administered by ICBC. Once startup costs are paid for, a portion of the licence revenue will go to off-road clubs to use for trail improvements, Thomson said.

Jeff Mohr, past president of the Quad Riders Association of B.C., said his members are pleased to have a licence system that allows safety and environmental enforcement, and gives police a way to track stolen off-road vehicles.

The province estimates there are 200,000 off-road vehicles that require licensing, including snowmobiles that have been licensed since the 1970s. About 35,000 of those have registered voluntarily since the new licences were offered a year ago.

Source: Tom Fletcher/ BC Local News

Click link “Motor Vehicle Branch Regulations” at the top left hand corner for more info.