Safety & Regulations

General Regulations

The following regulations are adapted to apply to all motorized off-road vehicles (e.g., snowmobiles, ATVs, dirt bikes, UTVs) in Newfoundland and Labrador. Operators are asked to comply with these rules to ensure safety, legality, and respect for others:

1. Registration Permit:
   • A person shall not operate or allow another person to operate a motorized off-road vehicle or snowmobile that does not have a valid registration permit.
2. License Plate:
   • A person shall not operate a motorized off-road vehicle or snowmobile unless it has a valid license plate affixed to it, where required by provincial or municipal regulations.
3. Insurance for Highway Crossing (Under 19):
   • A person under the age of 19 shall not operate a motorized off-road vehicle or snowmobile across a highway unless there is a valid insurance policy in place for that vehicle and person.
4. Yielding Right of Way:
   • The operator of a motorized off-road vehicle or snowmobile must at all times yield the right of way to motor vehicles on a highway.
5. Highway Crossing Visibility:
   • A person shall not operate a motorized off-road vehicle or snowmobile across a highway unless the operator has no less than 100 yards of visibility in both directions along the highway.
6. Owner Responsibility for Minors:
   • It is the responsibility of the owner of a motorized off-road vehicle or snowmobile to ensure that a person under the age of 19 does not operate the vehicle across a highway unless there is a valid insurance policy in place.
7. Responsible Operation:
   • It is illegal for a person to operate a motorized off-road vehicle or snowmobile without reasonable consideration for other people or property or while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
8. Prohibition on Harassing Animals:
   • It is illegal for a person to operate a motorized off-road vehicle or snowmobile to chase or harass animals.
9. Trail Sticker for Designated Trails:
   • A motorized off-road vehicle or snowmobile must have a valid trail sticker from the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation (NLSF) or the relevant trail authority (e.g., ATV trail associations), permanently affixed to the left-hand side of the windshield, bonnet, or another visible location, when using trails maintained by the NLSF or other designated trail organizations.
10. Age Restrictions for Solo Operation:
    • A person under the age of 13 years shall not operate a motorized off-road vehicle or snowmobile alone. They must be accompanied by another person who is 19 years of age or older.
11. Lighting for Night Operation:
    • No one shall operate a motorized off-road vehicle or snowmobile between sunset and sunrise without working head and tail lights.
12. Braking System:
    • No one shall operate a motorized off-road vehicle or snowmobile unless it is equipped with an adequate and working braking system.
13. Seizure for Non-Compliance:
    • A police officer may seize a motorized off-road vehicle or snowmobile that is not used in a proper manner according to these regulations.
14. Noise Control:
    • A noise muffler or other noise-reducing equipment must be kept in good working condition to prevent excessive or unusual noise. A person shall not equip a motorized off-road vehicle or snowmobile with a muffler cut-off, straight exhaust, gutted muffler, Hollywood muffler, by-pass, or other device that reduces the efficiency of noise-reducing equipment.

Disclaimer: This is meant only as a guide and should be taken as such. For further details on these or other matters, contact your local police station or the Department of Government Services, Motor Registration Division. Additionally, each municipality may have its own regulations for motorized off-road vehicles and snowmobiles, which you must follow. Contact your local council for details.