The Orillia Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has recently seen an increase in complaints about underage youth operating dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and other off-road vehicles (ORVs) in local communities.
What is an ORV?
ORV is a broad term that includes:
- Single-rider and two-up ATVs
- Utility terrain vehicles (UTVs)
- Recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs)
- Extreme-terrain vehicles (XTVs)
- Off-road motorcycles (ORMs)
Dirt bikes are not permitted on public roads.
While snowmobiles may be allowed in some areas, ORVs are generally intended for off-road use. Only single-rider ATVs are permitted on the shoulder of certain provincial highways and municipal roads where local bylaws allow.
To check where ORVs are permitted:
- Review Ontario Regulation 316/03 for provincial highways:
- Review Ontario Regulation 8/03 for municipalities with default ORV access,
- or contact your municipality for local bylaws
Safety & Legal Requirements for ORV Operators:
- Impaired driving laws apply: Operating an ORV under the influence of alcohol or drugs carries the same penalties as impaired driving in a motor vehicle.
- Minimum age: 12 years old for off-road riding; 16 years old with a G2/M2 licence for on-road riding (where permitted).
- Helmet: Must be approved and securely fastened under the chin.
- Registration & Insurance: ORVs must be registered, plated, and insured. Always carry your permit and proof of insurance.
- Speed limits: Max 20 km/h where posted speed is ≤50 km/h. Max 50 km/h where posted speed is >50 km/h
- Private Property: Stay off private property unless you have permission. Trespassing is illegal and can lead to charges. Always respect landowners and ride only in designated areas.
- On-road rules (where permitted): Travel in the same direction as traffic, use the shoulder when safe, and passengers must be at least 8 years old.
Outdoor sports like ORV riding come with responsibilities. The OPP is asking parents and guardians to help young riders become safe drivers by teaching them the proper way to operate off-road vehicles.
For more information, visit: www.ontario.ca/atv and www.ofatv.org
If you have information, video footage, or witnessed unsafe ORV use, please contact the OPP by calling 9-1-1 for emergencies, 1-888-310-1122 for non-emergencies, or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
From Orillia OPP Central Region
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Sorry but underage, unlicensed operators of dirt bikes prohibited on public roads are taking a lot of risks to their life and limbs. That is why the article is reminding us of the legal guardrails. Perhaps you missed the article about the youth riding a dirt bike who has recently been severely injured in Port Sydney area and had to be taken to hospital in Toronto for treatment.
Out our way we had/have some speed merchants burning up the backroads. 40km was in your dreams. These were flat-outs. There was even a ‘fuelie’ lawn tractor. But one lot seems to have safely aged out and now we’re looking at the up and comers.
Operating farm, mill-yard and pit equipment was a far cry from aimlessly blasting up the track, seeing how big a jump you could make off a bump. Around the work sites when we were kids, we were part of the operation. Our being unavailable created problems. Instruction was close at hand as was reprimand if you screwed around. Don’t know what generation grew up with little parental supervision, but I don’t recall it being any I was involve with.
Not to say we didn’t push the boundaries. Nothing was too heavy or too hot! And we realised that our children would push as I’m sure my parents did. But lead where you can and hope for the best.
And there was a big difference in the potential for injury between yesterdays toys and today. If I skidded out on my bicycle, I could end up with some serious road rash, bent forks, torn up clothes, bruises. But kiss a yellow birch at 60 km. after becoming separated from your Yamaha may result in permanent damage to the bike and the body.
Kids are a challenge. Being a parent ain’t easy. Never was. But there is a lot of reward to be appreciated if you coach them through safely. Give it your best shot.
There are kids that rip up Muskoka 10 by MBC almost nightly and every weekend during the day way over the speed limit and pulling wheelies. I get having fun but they are either going to hurt themselves or put others in risk. These are not road bikes they are dirt bikes and they aren’t even wearing a helmet most of time. Give your head a shake.
An entire generation that grew up with little parental supervision is now whining and complain that all kids do is sit on screens, yet they’re also the first ones to snitch on the ones out doing the things we grew up doing. Mind your business. Let them rip and enjoy a life off of a screen. The reason these kids stay on phones is because every time they do something fun they get snitched on by whiny adults.
I am a local and have ridden motorcycles for over 50 years. It’s a great activity and I support kids having fun on any off road vehicle. I have no problem with off road vehicles riding legally on public roads . What I do have a problem with are the ones who are breaking the law by riding unlicensed and uninsured vehicles without lights . I was pulling out of my driveway at dusk and almost took out a rider doing a wheelie on District road 10. By the way the legal speed limit for an off road vehicle in a 50km/hr. zone is 20 km/hr.
Hard to believe that peaple complain about kids having fun and enjoying themselves! They are off the streets,phones, laptops, staying out of trouble being good kids! Let them enjoy and be kids.
Anyone that would complain about such nonsense should move back to toronto or grow up and get a life!
People move to northern places like Huntsville just for this type of activity.
We need more ATVs out on the trails not less….. so I have someone to ride with!
Oh FYI, I’m 66 years old.
Ya much better kids watching a screen for hours on end,then getting out and riding something. Give it arrest already….
Urg… Let kids have fun.
We get it Karen’s, your from Toronto and never had a life growing up in the country where 10 year olds were driving tractors to run the farm, knew how to safely operate a firearm, etc.
Go… To… Hell… You are probably more of a danger in the roads than these kids.
“These extremely noisy machines”… I’d rather listen to dirt bikes, ATVs. Whatever, than cars whipping down my road at 100km in a 60 zone. I much prefer seeing the dirt bikes on my road going 40 doing wheelies as they often do.
Perhaps someone should share the details of the laws regarding where these extremely noisy machines can legally be driven with a few young people in Port Sydney. Muskoka Road 10 has become a race track on a regular basis. Two nights ago someone was out at 10 PM!