City wants to freeze illegal snowmobiling

Mount Pearl city council is planning to increase fines for illegal snowmobiling because it says it is receiving too many complaints about snowmobiles on private property, public trails and parks.

However, some snowmobible enthusiasts say cracking down on snowmobilers is the wrong approach.Coun. Paul Lane said snowmobiling has become a problem in the city because too many users are operating the machines in places where they are not allowed.

"Actually in some cases operating on the side of the roadway," said Lane.

"They've been operating in the trails, walking trails and actual playgrounds and park areas. For us that's a real concern from a public safety point of view."

So Mount Pearl is fighting back with higher fines.

Snowmobilers who get caught within city limits will now have to pay $250 to get their machine back instead of the former fee of $50.Municipal enforcement officers will use tracks in the snow to find violators who might be hopping on snowmobiles right outside their front doors.

However, Andrew Goldsworthy, publisher of a newspaper devoted to snowmobiling called Sledworthy, said cracking down on snowmobilers is the wrong approach for any city to take.

"We should collectively embrace the sport and create ways to make it easier for people to enjoy the sport," said Goldsworthy.

Goldsworthy said snowmobling injects a lot of money into urban economies, but users are seen as nuisances.

He said cities should make efforts to develop trails for snowmobiles instead of banning them altogether.

"Certain areas or trails that are probably high traffic, high travelled areas, it's a matter of actually looking back and seeing where people normally do travel to get access to certain areas and then deciding, can we turn that into an access point," said Goldsworthy.

However, the city said safety is the main priority.

http://www.cbc.ca/nl/story/nf_snowmobiles_20060209.html

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