Councillors in Eastern Charlotte are divided on the bylaw that outlines the rules for the use of all-terrain vehicles in the municipality.
At council this month, Coun. Alexa Detorakis said there have been ongoing issues about ATVs not adhering to the bylaw.
“So, I’ve supported this from the beginning and I think this is a fantastic initiative and it does bring forth folks from all over New Brunswick to St. George … However, since its inception there has been some issues,” she said at the September meeting of council.
She said there have been issues of riders not following the bylaw and using roads not approved under the bylaw, including the walking trails.
Coun. Michael Thompson disagreed with Detorakis, adding he felt this was an issue of enforcement as opposed to the bylaw.
“We pay good money to the RCMP to enforce that bylaw and others and they are not doing their job,” he said. “We need to chase them and the public needs to chase them by calling them. They need to step up.”
Deputy Mayor David Hatt says he agrees it is likely an enforcement issue, adding the bylaw had been approved by the Local Government and Local Governance Reform minister, and any changes would have to be reviewed by that person – meaning it could take some time.
“However, since its inception there has been some issues,” – Coun. Alexa Detorakis
Both Thompson and Hatt encouraged the public to phone the RCMP if they see issues with ATVs that aren’t in compliance with the bylaw.
Some residents, who were there at council to speak, also shed light on the issues.
Raymond Hall said they often drive down by his home, many without proper registration.
“The ATVs – they go right by our house every day, by the Mounties, and the Mounties don’t do a thing,” he said at the meeting. “And most of the ones I’ve seen, and I’ve been paying attention, are not registered members because there is no strikers, no nothing on their bikes.”
Another resident suggested there be an improvement in the signage, which may help riders understand the bylaw better.
“As an ATVer, when you see a common sign, you that’s a sign addressed to me as soon as you came out of the tunnel … that you could post your stop sign, your direction sign … if we could take a look at the signage a little more,” said resident Dave Wilkinson.
Detorakis asked council to send the bylaw back to the public safety committee for review, but the motion was defeated in a vote by council five to three.
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