Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 04/05) - After receiving several complaints about snowmobile noise in Inuvik in the middle of the night, town council is considering a bylaw similar to those in Fort McPherson and Tuktoyaktuk, where snowmobile use would be restricted at night.

It's scenes like this that make protective services officer Duane Debastien's hair stand on end. Not only do these kids appear younger than 16, but nobody's wearing a helmet. - NNSL file photo

"We're hearing from the community that people are tired of kids stealing machines and driving them all night," said Mayor Peter Clarkson. "Right now it's a free-for-all. Enough is enough."

In Tuk, except for coming into or out of the community, one cannot operate a snowmobile within town limits between midnight and 7 a.m. In McPherson, the same thing applies between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

According to Clarkson, the town's noise bylaw, which was put in place to restrict late-night construction in the summer time, is "too grey to enforce for snowmobile use.

"The idea (of implementing a bylaw to regulate snowmobile use at night) has been kicked back to the administration committee and something will happen this year," he said. "Our biggest problem will be how to enforce it."

Though snowmobiles are enjoyed by many and are necessary for getting out on the land, having the machines driving around within town limits is already creating headaches for the town's protective services officers.

"There is a noise bylaw and I do get complaints, but you have to catch them," said bylaw officer Duane Debastien, adding that his concern is more with the age of the riders and the fact many are not wearing helmets. "We won't chase them because that just adds to the danger, but what we will be doing is taking pictures and identifying people that way."

Under the town's bylaws, all snowmobiles that are used within the municipality must have insurance and must be registered. As well, all riders must be 16 years or older.

Fines range from $75 for riders and passengers without helmets to $200 for operating an uninsured ATV or snowmobile.

So far this season, Inuvik RCMP have already dealt with 10 cases of stolen snowmobiles. Last year, the total number of stolen sleds was 25.

"We go through this every year and we ask people to be security minded, but snowmobiles still go missing," said RCMP detachment commander Sid Gray.

"Obviously it's a possibility that (snowmobiles being driven late at night) are stolen, but there are also other reasons they are out there, either going out on the land or riding around on unregistered ones.

"If people want them badly enough, there's not a lot you can do."

At last week's committee of the whole meeting, councillor Clarence Wood reported that his snowmobile, which he had secured in a seacan, was one of the machines reported stolen.