Tuesday, March 27, 2007

HEYDEN BREAK AND ENTER

Heyden, Ont.,

Yesterday afternoon Sault Ste Marie OPP were called to an office break and enter on Rupert Acres Drive in Heyden.

Sometime over the weekend thieves forced their way into an office building located on Rupert Acres Drive in Heyden. At this time the owner of the building is still conducting an inventory to determine what, if anything, is missing.

MOOSE AND SUV COLLIDE—MOOSE LOSES

Goulais River, Ont.,

Sault Ste Marie OPP were called to a crash on Hwy 552 East last night involving a moose and a SUV type of vehicle.

At about 9:30 p.m. last night the vehicle was traveling on Hwy 552 East near Bellevue Valley Road. The vehicle struck a moose that was on the roadway. The moose was badly injured and had to be put out of its misery. No one in the vehicle was injured and the operator was able to drive the vehicle away from the scene.

Be Visible – Turn on your Lights !!

(Blind River, Ont.) The Highway traffic Act of Ontario states that lighted lamps are required on all motor vehicles ½ hour before sunset to ½ hour after sunrise and at any other time, when due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions persons and or vehicles are not discernable at a distance of 150 meters or less.

During these early Spring days Fog is very prevalent. Some motor vehicles do not have their taillights illuminated when operating with only the daytime running lights in use.

Inspector Ron Faulkner of East Algoma Ontario Provincial Police is urging all motorists to be safe and be seen- turn your lighting system on fully during times of poor visibility.

ATV’s on Municipal Streets and Highways

There seems to be come confusion and abuse of Regulation 316 regarding the use of ATV’s on public roadways.
The following is provided to help clarify that use.

Highway", includes a common and public highway, street, avenue, parkway, driveway, square, place, bridge, viaduct or trestle, any part of which is intended for or used by the general public for the passage of vehicles and includes the area between the lateral property lines thereof; ("route")

According to Regulation 316 of the Highway Traffic Act the following limitations apply to ATV’s on highways.
The ATV must have:
4 wheels, steering handlebars, a seat designed to be straddled by the driver, designed to carry only the driver- no passengers, low pressure tires,
White lamp(s) showing to the front and in use when on a highway, red lamp(s) to the rear, reflectors.
It must have a permit (licence plate) issue under the authority of section 9 of the Off Road vehicles Act and Insurance pursuant to section 2 of the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act and section 15 of the Off Road Vehicles Act.

The Driver must have a licence of class A,B,C,D,E,F,G,G2,M or M2.

The driver must wear a helmet that conforms to section 19 of the Off Road Vehicles Act.

Speed must be not greater than;
20 km/h in a zone where the highway speed is not greater than 50 km/h and
50 km/h in a zone where the highway speed is greater than 50 km/h

ATV’s shall be driven on the shoulder of the highway in the same direction as the traffic using the same side of the highway, but may be driven on the roadway IF there is no shoulder or the shoulder is obstructed and cannot be used by the off road vehicle.
When driven on the shoulder he vehicle shall be driven as close to and parallel with the right edge of the shoulder as can be done safely. When driven on the roadway it shall be driven as close to and parallel with the right edge of the roadway as can be done safely.

DO NOT get this confused with the Off Road Vehicles Act

Municipalities must make bylaws permitting the use of ATV’s on municipal roads and most have areas that are restrictive or prohibited from operating such vehicles.
Check with your municipalities before operating on Municipal roadways.