Fighting Snowmobile Charges:

Question: How is the law for snowmobiles different from the law for automobiles in Ontario, and who can help me defend a snowmobile charge?

Answer: If you’re dealing with a snowmobile charge in Ontario, the law is often different from the Highway Traffic Act rules that apply to most automobiles, because snowmobiles are primarily governed by the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44 rather than the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8.  In practice, differences commonly include helmet requirements, speed limit rules, towing and passenger exceptions, insurance obligations and special exceptions, accident reporting, and other operational nuances that can affect defences and options.  Woodcock Legal Services provides professional legal services in Ontario to help you understand how these snowmobile-specific rules apply to your situation and to build a defence strategy around the facts.  For help as soon as possible, call (613) 334-6721 to speak with the team.

Is Defending Against Snowmobile Charges the Same as Defending Automobile Charges?

The law applicable to snowmobiles is somewhat different than the law applicable to automobiles. Accordingly, defending against snowmobile charges requires a strong understanding of the nuanced differences between the two sets of laws.

The laws that are applicable to driving an automobile may also apply to driving a snowmobile; however, many laws also differ with unique nuances that make for some differences in the legal strategies that are available when defending snowmobile charges versus defending automobile traffic tickets.  Understanding the unique differences between a charge involving the operation of a snowmobile versus a charge involving the operation of an automobile is critical.  An experienced legal professional can help to identify the unique differences, and thus the defence strategy nuances, that differ from a charge involving the operation of a snowmobile versus a charge involving the operation of an automobile.

The Law

Are Snowmobile Laws and Automobile Laws the Same?

Generally, the law applicable to snowmobiles is the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44 rather than the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8 as applies to most automobiles.  Whereas the various offences, the various applicable special conditions or exceptions, and the various nuanced differences, between the laws may affect defence strategies and options for legal theories to argue, it is important and necessary to have a strong understanding of the two sets of laws and the differences within each.

Differences Between Snowmobile Law and Automobile Law Include:

• The requirement of insurance coverage and the special exception that applies;
• The requirement to report an accident;
• The various differences involving the applicable speed limits;
• The exception and conditions for towing skiers, toboggans, or other things; and
• The requirement to snowmobile with a legally approved helmet;
• The various other nuances applicable to snowmobiles.

Understanding the specific differences within the laws applicable to automobiles and the laws applicable to snowmobiles is a necessity when fighting snowmobile charges.

Charges May Involve: