Provincial officers are stepping up efforts to stop people who use recreational vehicles and motor vehicles on Prince Edward Island’s beaches and sand dunes.
In response to complaints from the public, the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry’s Conservation Officers are increasing patrols this summer to enforce regulations limiting the use of off-road vehicles to designated areas and keeping them from restricted areas such as wetlands, beaches, dunes and the Confederation Trail.
Unless they are being used for a legal purpose, operation of motor vehicles on dunes and beaches is a violation of the Environmental Protection Act and in some situations may violate the Species at Risk Act.
“ATVs and other motor vehicles are allowed on beaches while they are actively being used in moss harvesting and for the purposes of a legal fishery such as clamming or for gathering sand or gravel below the high tide mark, but beaches are off-limits for recreational riding,” said Wade MacKinnon, Senior Conservation Officer. “These machines can be very damaging to habitat when they are used in sensitive areas. We advise ATV users to make sure they are using their machines in appropriate areas and to get landowner permission before taking the vehicle onto private property.”
So far this summer, Conservation Officers have laid 15 charges relating to the operation of motor vehicles on beaches.
The province’s Environmental Protection Act, Trails Act and Off-Highway Vehicle Act provide for fines or seizure in cases where people are found to be using dirt bikes and ATVs in prohibited areas.