The Huron Expositor, 1970-10-29, Page 22THE HURON EXPOSITOR, SEAFORTH, ONT., //CT. 29, 1970410
Snowmobiles Snowmobile Deaths Increase
Chase Robbers Some of the Causes
ar
Cops and robbers on snow-
mobiles? Not yet. says Inspector
F. R. Blucher, Director of Pub-
lic Information for 'the Ontario
Provincial Police.
There have been occasional
stories of bank robbers making
daring escapes on snowmobiles.
To date though, apprehension of
criminals has been with conven-
tional vehicles such as cars,
airplanes, helicopters . . .
The OPP does maintain a
unique snow vehicle force con-
sisting of 13 units "strategically
located throughout the province."
This special force was crea-
ted in 1953 with the purchase of
one of Bombardier's larger, en-
closed snow machines. Still in
service in the Moosonee area
this vehicle serves mainly as a
rescue unit.
Often, even today, people 'will
walk 30 or 40 miles out of the
bush in sub-zero weather re-
questing aid from a superbly
trained police unit.
The present status of this
force requires two-man patrols
on radio equipped snowmobiles,
The men are trained to survive
off the land for indefinite periods.
Patrols are sent out fully equip-
ped and prepared tt, stay at
least one night in the bush.Should
a call come in requesting their
services a patrol unit would be
able to extend their operating
radius until no longer required.
For the variety of duties per-
formed by all men in the force,
these "uniformed civilians -
hired to do the job" are given
the best of training.
The Ontari oProvincialPolice
force consists of trained woods-
men, scuba divers, pilots, ma-
chinists, . . . just about every
occupation. Some for the custom
crafting of .prototypes of
machines for specific duties and
others for the protection, any-
where, of the public.
Although only 13 units strong,
virtually every officer on the
force is capable of working ef-
fectively, and efficiently on snow
vehicles.
The whole policeman. .is
often deployed 100 miles from
his nearest supervisor; there-
fore, his training has to be
good", points out Inspector Blu-
cher. The men work inpairs and
as often as possible volunteer
for specific fields of duty.
Snowmobiles are increasing
"like flies". It just is not
financially possible for the OPP
to purchase new vehicles to keep
up with the demand. Unfortun-
ately, money has to be spent in
other areas and it may be a f ew
years before police forces get
caught up (although with such
a heavy public demand one won-
ders if they ever will).
Probably best known for their
search and rescue operations,
Inspector Blucher could not re-
call any tales of daring rescue
attempts, or dashes across a
frozen lake with blood for a
stricken party. Just routine
patrol services.
A welcome side effect to snow
vehicle patrols is the reduction
of cottage break-ins. In fact,
in Bracebridge there has been
a marked decrease in this branch
of criminal activity. Credit goes
to the OPP and observant citi-
zens on snowmobiles reporting
suspicious behaViour.
This has been an unexpected -
but welcomed - help to police.
Another advantage to these
snow patrols is early discovery
of robberies. In the past crim-
inals have been able to make a
clean get-a-way and had time to
dispose ,of stolen goods. Not so
anymore.
The biggest. problem en-
countered by the OPP are the
complaints directed to those
snowmobile operators respon-
sible for "lots of damage" to
private ' property. Particular
damage occurs when these
thoughtless individuals tear down
fences for access to private prop-
erty, and then, once in, damage
seedlings and other shrubbery.
Because these offenders are
off the beaten track, law en-
forcement is difficult. Often,
police can act only when in-
truders are reported. Most en-
forcement is on a hit and miss
basis.
Inspector Blucher points out
that it is almost "futile to give
chase: The force would need
10,000 additional men".
Ontario Provincial , Police,
like us, do not like collisions.
(Not accidents because ac-
cidents are acts of God. Collis-
ions are caused by people - usua-
lly driver in-attention.) Their
job is to prevent collisions and
to protect the public.
Acting on this premise In-
spector Blucher would urge every
snowmobile operator to take a
course in safe snowmobile oper-
ation. At the very least, follow
your dealer or manufacturer's
instructions.
We are all subject to mis-
fortunes of our own making.Help
is forthcoming though, because
the OPP are trained and paid to
help.
(The St. Catharines Standard)
Who is really to blame for
Canadian snowmobilers killing
themselves almost at the rate of
one a day since the start of the
new year?
A large part of the responsi-
bility must, of course, rest
with the drivers. Snowmobilers,
like auto drivers, have been'kil-
ling themselves in a variety of
ways. They have run their ma-
chines into trees, fenceposts 'and
barbed wire fences. They've hit
parked cars and moving trains
and they've crashed to their
deaths through thin ice. In one
accident in Quebec, seven ma-
chines plunged, one behind the
other, into an unused quarry.
But some questions need to
be asked: For example, why does
the province allow snowmobile
manufacturers to cut costs by
incorporating plastic gas tanks in
the machines when you and I
can't walk into a gas station with
a plastic container and buy gas?
Why is one situation considered
dangerous and the other not? Why
are snowmobile manufacturers
allowed to place those plastic
tanks up front by the engine in-
stead of at the back of the ma-
chine? If we sanction this, why
should we be shocked when a unit
blows up in a relatively minor
collision?
Why don't the safety experts
look at the relationship between
the vast increase in car-snow-,
The boy walked unhesitatingly
up to his father and said: "Dad,
here's my report card. And here
also is an old one of yours I
found in the attic."
mobile accidents and,the passing
of the Motorized Winter Vehicles
Act in 1968 and additional regula-
tions announced last winter that
allow snowmobiles on the
shoulders of almost all highways
and secondary roads in the pro-
vince?
The mixture of cars and snow-
mobiles has proved deadly. Until
last season, most snowmobilers
died from drowning. Now, almost
80 per cent of snowmobile
deaths - and total deaths will
likely double this year - occur
on public highways. Did this
rich province of ours need the
fees from the licencing system
that badly? Did the insurance
companies really need the pro-
fits from the new business? (A
licenced snowmobile must 'also
be insured.)
Why haven't the Conservation
Authorities and the various parks
boards in the region invited snow-
mobilers to use their property?
The land is just sitting idle.
Why not establish a series of
snowmobile trails in the area to
help get snowmobiles off the
roads?
PLAN TO ATTEND THE
SEAFORTH
SNOWMOBILE CLUB'S
Winter Warm - up
DANCE
Pot-Luck Supper
at the
SEAPORTS LEGION HALL ,
Sat., November 14th
TICKETS $2.50 PER COUPLE
AVAILABLE FROM ANY MEMBER OR PHONE 527-1859
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