Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (June 19/02) - If you're going to ride, you have to abide.

That's the message being sent out to all-terrain vehicle riders by the Rankin Inlet detachment of the RCMP.

Const. Mario Vachon says the Rankin RCMP and bylaw officers are working to remind residents of the bylaws in effect regarding ATVs.

Rankin bylaws state any person driving an ATV on hamlet streets is required to wear a helmet, and have proper insurance and registration.

Vachon says the bylaws are in effect all year, but during the spring officers like to do reminders when so many of ATVs are back on the roads.

"Traditionally, we give people a bit of a grace period during the beginning of the spring months to update their registration and insurance," says Vachon. "If they don't have a helmet, this gives them a bit of time to buy one or borrow one from a family member or friend."

There are now two bylaw officers in Rankin Inlet -- John Wallace Jr. and Warren Kusugak -- who are in charge of ensuring the hamlet's bylaws are followed.

RCMP officers are in charge of enforcing Nunavut's Motor Vehicle Act, which also includes a section on ATVs.

Fines under the hamlet's ATV bylaws are $60 for each infraction. Under territorial law, the fines are $29. Vachon says the enforcement at the beginning of the spring looks bigger to the public, but the laws and bylaws are enforced all year long.

"Early in the spring or summer, people see us out more reminding people about the bylaws.

"As the summer progresses there's less people to remind, so it may not appear to some people that we're still actively enforcing the bylaws, but I stress that's simply not the case."

Vachon says there hasn't been a significant number of charges laid during the past few years concerning ATVs, but there have been some tickets given out. He says the RCMP and the bylaw officers would rather see riders comply with the bylaws and avoid the issuing of tickets.

"That's why we issue the verbal warnings at the beginning of every spring. "It's proven a fairly effective way to deal with the issue."