Gander snowmobilers abusing bylaws: municipal police

A municipal police officer in Gander says some snowmobilers in the community are abusing local bylaws on their machines.

Town bylaws allow machines on streets, but mainly to access trails in the area. The drivers must be licensed and have their snowmobiles registered, with speeds kept in the 10 to 15 km/h range.

However, municipal police Const. Oz Fudge said some people have been breaking the rules lately.

"I'm hearing some adults, as well as young people, are racing up and down the streets, and it has to stop," he said.

"What we're saying is, that this is a privilege, it's not a right, and like all privileges it can be taken away."

Fudge said people are even using their machines in place of regular vehicles for regular errands.

"We're getting complaints of people using machines to go to the grocery store. That has to stop — that's not what it was designed for," Fudge said.

"We know there's a certain number of people taking advantage of it, so it's gonna stop."

Fudge said municipal officers can, and will, seize snowmobiles if they catch users violating bylaws.

If the problem persists, he said the town may move to ban snowmobiles from streets completely.