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HAY RIVER
A public meeting has been set in Hay River on a controversial proposed bylaw to regulate all-terrain vehicles, including dirt bikes and snowmobiles.

The meeting will be held on Oct. 11.

If comments at the Sept. 26 meeting of town council are any indication, the public meeting may reveal a wide variety of strongly-held opinions in the community.

Some councillors have deep concerns about the proposal from the town's bylaw officer.

"I think the last thing Hay River needs to do is to implement a bylaw against all-terrain vehicles," said Coun. Bernie Langille.

The councillor noted such a bylaw would be hard to enforce, adding the only people who would stop for the bylaw officer are the really young or the law-abiding.

"Anybody who knows how to ride isn't going to stop," he said. "It's practically a matter of honour that you've outrun a police officer on a quad."

Langille argued existing GNWT legislation on ATVs is sufficient for the town.

A town bylaw would be a waste of time, he concluded.

That opinion didn't go over well with Coun. Dawna O'Brien.

"It's easy to say that it's a waste of time, but I'm sure the lady that was hit today with an ATV wouldn't think that a bylaw was a waste of time," O'Brien said.

According to the RCMP, a teenage girl was hit on the afternoon of Sept. 26 by a dirt bike, which would meet the definition of an ATV under the proposed bylaw.

There were only minor injuries to the 15-year-old girl and the 16-year-old male rider of the dirt bike.

Cpl. Scott Young of the RCMP explained the girl was walking with a friend along a trail near the Rooster convenience store.

When they heard the dirt bike and an ATV approaching, they moved to different sides of the trail.

"One decided at the last minute to cross back over the trail," Young said, noting it may have been a case of miscommunication or last-minute anxiety.

"No charges are pending at this time," he said last week.

Young said it doesn't appear alcohol, speed or dangerous driving were

involved in the accident.

At the council meeting, Coun. Kevin Wallington encouraged town residents to read the proposed bylaw.

Wallington also expressed concerns about "scary" parts of the proposal.

"I think the enforcement factor is pretty scary when you read through that section, especially when you attach some of the fines that are associated with it," he said.

The proposed fines range from $50 to $500, and cover such things as operating an uninsured or unlicensed snowmobile, not wearing a helmet, operating an ATV or snowmobile without due consideration and care for others, failing to stop for an officer, and more.

Wallington said there are important things in the document, especially requirements for more education.

"I don't think we should throw the whole thing out, but I definitely would not be willing to support this document as it stands right now in its entirety," he said. "I think in some ways it goes against our Northern culture."

The public meeting on the proposed bylaw will begin at 7 p.m. tomorrow at town council chambers.

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