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BYLAW 11-25
BEING A BYLAW TO REGULATE AND CONTROL THE OPERATION OF OFF-HIGHWAY
VEHICLES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SUMMER VILLAGE OF BONDISS.
WHEREAS, Pursuant to the Municipal Government Act, RSA 2000, Chapter M-26, and
amendments thereto, a municipality has the authority to regulate and control the use of Off-
Highway Vehicles within its boundaries;
WHEREAS, Off-Highway Vehicles, when improperly operated, may cause damage to public and
private property, create excessive noise, and pose safety hazards to operators, passengers, and
residents;
THEREFORE, The Council of the Summer Village of Bondiss deems it necessary to establish
regulations to ensure the safe and responsible operation of Off-Highway Vehicles within the
municipality;
1. Title
This bylaw may be cited as the Summer Village of Bondiss "Off-Highway Vehicles
Bylaw."
2. Definitions
In this bylaw:
a.
"All terrain vehicle" means a wheeled or tracked motor vehicle designed for
travel primarily on unprepared surfaces, including open country and
marshland, but does not include a snow vehicle, implement of husbandry, or
construction machinery.
b.
"Financial responsibility card" means a card issued or authorized pursuant to
the Insurance Act.
c.
"Highway" means a highway as defined in the Traffic Safety Act.
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d.
"Insured off-highway vehicle" means an Off-Highway Vehicle insured by a
policy of insurance approved under Part 7 of the Insurance Act and
containing the coverage and limits required by that Act.
e.
"Off-highway vehicle" means any motorized vehicle designated for cross-
country travel on land, water, snow, ice, marsh or swamp land, or on other
natural terrain. This includes, but is not limited to:
i. 4-wheel drive or low-pressure tire vehicles,
ii. Motorcycles and related 2-wheel vehicles,
iii. Amphibious machines,
iv. All-terrain vehicles,
v. Snow vehicles and snowmobiles.
This definition shall automatically include any future categories of Off-
Highway Vehicles introduced under Alberta law, provided they are formally
recognized through legislative amendments or regulatory updates. The
Council will review and integrate such changes into this bylaw as necessary.
f.
"Parkland" means every recreational area owned or controlled by the
Summer Village of Bondiss, including both improved and natural areas, as
well as beautification and publicly maintained areas.
g.
"Peace officer" means a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(RCMP), a municipal police officer, a park officer, a wildlife officer, or a Special
Constable appointed by the Municipal Council.
3. POWERS OF A PEACE OFFICER
a.
A peace officer who has reasonable and probable grounds to believe that an
offense under this bylaw has been committed may seize and detain any Off-
Highway Vehicle in respect of which the offense was committed until the
final disposition of any proceedings.
b.
The provisions of Section 170 of the Traffic Safety Act shall apply regarding
the recovery by the Summer Village of Bondiss for costs incurred due to
removal and storage of any Off-Highway Vehicle seized under this bylaw.
4. PENALTIES & VOLUNTARY PAYMENTS
a. Tiered Fine Structure:
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i. First-time minor offense (e.g., excessive noise, parking violation):
$100 fine.
ii. Repeat offense within 12 months: $250 fine.
iii. Third or subsequent offense within 12 months: $500 fine &
potential vehicle impoundment.
iv. Serious safety violations (reckless driving, unauthorized operation
in prohibited areas): $500 fine & potential vehicle impoundment.
b. A Peace Officer may issue an Offense Ticket for any breach of this bylaw, and
the ticket shall be deemed sufficiently served if:
i.
Delivered in person to the accused.
ii. Mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle involved.
c. Fire Hazard Violation: Operating an Off-Highway Vehicle during a fire ban will
result in an immediate fine of $500, and repeat offenses may lead to
impoundment. Fire hazard bans will be announced via the Village website,
signage, and Facebook to ensure public awareness.
5. REGULATIONS
a. Operation Hours: No person shall operate an Off-Highway Vehicle within the
Summer Village of Bondiss between 12:00 AM and 7:00 AM.
b. Noise Restrictions: No person shall operate an Off-Highway Vehicle equipped
with an exhaust muffler that produces noise exceeding 96 dB, or emits
excessive flames or sparks.
c. Operator Age Requirements:
i.
Operators must be at least 16 years of age.
d. Speed Limits & Enforcement:
i.
All Off-Highway Vehicles shall travel at a maximum speed of 20 km/h
within the village.
ii. Operators must stay to the right side of the road and avoid impeding
traffic.
iii. Enforcement: Speed limits will be monitored through Peace Officer
patrols and community reporting mechanisms.
e. Passenger Restrictions:
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i. No Off-Highway Vehicle shall carry passengers unless it is
specifically designed to do so by the manufacturer.
f. Parking & Storage Regulations:
ii. Off-Highway Vehicles must not be parked in public areas except at
private residences.
iii. Vehicles must be parked in a driveway, garage, or designated
storage space and must not obstruct roads, sidewalks, or public
pathways.
g. Parkland & Restricted Area Use:
i. No Off-Highway Vehicle shall be operated on parkland or restricted
areas, except for transporting boat lifts or fishing huts using
existing lake accesses.
h. Insurance & Registration Requirements
i. All Off-Highway Vehicles operated within the Summer Village must
be properly registered under the Traffic Safety Act and display a
valid registration plate.
ii. All Off-Highway Vehicles must carry valid insurance coverage in
accordance with the Insurance Act.
iii. Operators must carry proof of registration and financial
responsibility (insurance) and produce it upon request by a Peace
Officer.
i. Helmet Use
Every person operating or riding as a passenger on an Off-Highway Vehicle
must wear a helmet that meets the standards prescribed by the Traffic Safety
Act and associated regulations, unless exempt under provincial legislation.
j. Special Event Permits:
i. The Council may grant temporary permits for Off-Highway Vehicle
operation during special events. Applications must be submitted at
least 14 days in advance with a description of the event and
proposed routes.
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k. Fire Hazard Ban:
i. During times of high to extreme fire hazard, all Off-Highway
Vehicle use is banned within the Summer Village.
ii. Fire hazard bans will be announced via the Village website,
signage, and Facebook.
l. Municipal Employees:
i. This bylaw does not apply to municipal employees using
maintenance or emergency vehicles during their duties.
6. REPEAL
This bylaw repeals Bylaw 02-13.
7. EFFECTIVE DATE
This bylaw shall come into force upon third and final reading by the Council of the Summer
Village of Bondiss.
Read a first time this 22nd day of April, 2025.
Read a second time this 27th day of May, 2025.
Read a third time and finally passed this 27th day of May, 2025.
___________________________________
_____________________________
Mayor
Chief Administrative Officer