Chatham-Kent council is set to revisit the new ATV by-law.
Chatham Coun. Darrin Canniff entered a notice of motion at Monday’s meeting, listing the following:
– Consider implementing a licensing liability waiver
– Investigate the possibility of increased fines for trespassing
– Prohibit use on all main streets in towns and cities, may cross the streets but not travel on them.
– Prohibit use on all major highways including Hwy 2, 3, 21 & 40 and other roads identified by STAT, may cross the highways but not travel on them.
– Only in Chatham for snow plowing on the day of the snow event and the day after the snow event.
– Create measurable criteria to evaluate the merits of the by-law at the end of the trail period.
– One year trial period after which the by-law automatically expires.
Despite agreeing in principle to some changes to an off-road vehicle by-law in Chatham-Kent, council voted down the by-law on Nov. 10.
Council was deadlocked 9-9 on the issue, which caused the motion to fail.
Wallaceburg’s councillors Jeff Wesley and Carmen McGregor were both supportive of implementing the by-law earlier this month.
“I think sometimes we get in our mindset where we think about why we cannot do things as opposed to thinking about how we can do things,” Wesley said on Nov. 10. “The thing that is a saving grace for me… it is a trial period. We already allow snowmobiles, we already allow boats in our waterways and rivers and bays. The vast majority are responsible owners, drivers considerate and safe and I think for a trial period for one year we can give the off-road vehicles the opportunity to show us that they are responsible.”
McGregor added: “I think leading the way and maybe having the opportunity to address some of the issues that are out there and maybe look at proper licensing. Some of the people who are selling these and helmets etc., there might be an increase in sales to them which is always good for people in the community. I would like to at least give it a try.”
A revised by-law would require a two-thirds majority vote to bring it back for council’s consideration.
This is expected to happen in December or January.
