Lambton OPP is reminding the public that all terrain vehicles [ATV's] and dirt bikes are only allowed on roads in some Lambton County communities.
Constable Jamie Bydeley said off-road vehicles are only fully permitted on roadways in Dawn-Euphemia, St. Clair Township, Warwick and Oil Springs.
"As of January of this year, the Ontario government amended the Highway Traffic Act to permit the use of ATV's or off-road vehicles on certain highways throughout the province," said Bydeley. "In that, they granted the municipalities the authority to prohibit or place restrictions on the use of off-road vehicles, by way of municipal bylaws."
He said fines can range from $110 to $490.
"There's charges under the Highway Traffic Act for driving a motor vehicle that's not plated or insured, but there's also charges under the Off-Road Vehicles Act. The OPP would be able to take enforcement action on people who are not following the appropriate rules."
Cst. Bydeley said officers have already responded to a number of calls, many dealing with dirt bikes.
"We want to remind parents of youth with dirt bikes that they're not permitted to be ridden on the road. In order to ride these off-road vehicles on the road, you need to have proper safety equipment, an approved helmet, a drivers licence, vehicles need to be registered and insured."
He said that responsibility falls on to the parent or guardian of the youth because they would be permitting them to be operated on the highway.
In Brooke-Alvinston, off-road vehicles are allowed on roads, as long as they're not used in a residential or commercial area.
In Enniskillen, they're restricted to farming, trapping and public works use.
In Lambton Shores, Plympton-Wyoming, Petrolia and Point Edward, ATV's are not permitted for road use.