BC introducing changes to off-road vehicle licensing

British Columbia is rolling out changes to its licensing requirements for off-road vehicles, reported the Times Colonist.As of Fall 2011, only a licence will be required for crossing highways at designated areas, rather than the operations permit currently required, Vivian Thomas, spokeswoman for the Minisitry of Forests, Land and Natural Resources told the Times Colonist in an email. “The designated crossings will help connect trails across the province,” she said.Off-road vehicle users are also required to have a one-time registration permit, a driver’s licence and insurance. The changes will apply to all-terrain vehicles, quads, off-highway motorcycles and utility vehicles, as well as snowmobiles. By Fall 2012, all of the province’s new requirements should be rolled out, including required helmet use, spark arrestors to avoid forest fires and new mufflers to control noise.