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Anyone who believes that a $50.00 slap on the wrist will change the ways of the entitled sledders out there today is mistaken. For many it would be a bragging point but not a deterence. Our club put "Stay on trail or permission revoked" signs in a bowl area of our trail. The farmer doesn't really want us there but knows there isn't another available route around it. He's afraid someone will get badly hurt or worse. Needless to say there are sled tracks from the "wannabe mountain riders" all around it.  

Staying on the trail has been promoted for years and small fines equate to "legal for a price" If you are caught. That price needs to be much higher. Same with modified exhaust. The two things the public complains about the most are a slap on the wrist.  We lost a trail this year that was rerouted down a once quiet little side road. Those locals are petitioning to have it moved due to noise and people riding the ditches and making a mess of driveways as they cross over.  One fella drove T-bar stakes in the ground where sledders were jumping his driveway. Bet some of those sleds tore some stuff up. His private property, not road allowance.   

Maybe not as big a fines as some feel deserving, but they were caught and charged. That is the point to be promoted, off trail not allowed unless on crown land.

I just looked up the fine for Trespass in Ontario: Schedule 85 Trespass to Property Act Item Offence Section Set Fine 1. Enter premises when entry prohibited 2(1)(a)(i) $50.00 2. Engage in prohibited activity on premises 2(1)(a)(ii) $50.00 3. Fail to leave premises when directed 2(1)(b) $50.00   If these are correct they arejust pathetic! I couldn't find a date on this particular site.

I haven't been stopped in several years now.     The OFSC needs to keep on advertising that the free weekend doesn't exist any more. I've seen multiple posts in Facebook groups this year asking when it was. There are probably plenty that don't ask and play stupid. I was riding Sunday and I saw a ton of sleds that were over 20 years old. I wasn't checking for permits but I'll bet half the sleds I seen were pre-2005.