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The Citizen, 2001-11-28, Page 11parifigifee CRAIG NICHOLSON A new law for snowmobilers By Craig Nicholson (©2001 by Craig Nicholson. All rights reserved.) G & M Auto Parts ' We stock a full line of snowmobile parts & accessories See us for your snowmobiling needs! "Quality Parts plus Personal Service" Turnberry St., Brussels 887-8002 fax 887-8004 4. Auto Ports Plus NOW on SALE SAVE up to $1 /liter at MS lives here. MS is the most common neurological disease affecting young adults in Canada. MVP Multiple Sclerosis VP Society of Canada 1.800-268.7582 www.mssociety.ca INSURANCE PREMIUMS TOO HIGH? fi7 Omni Insurance Brokers Save 20-40% on your auto insurance and more on other insurance services * Free No Obligation Quote Paul Hallahan R.R. #3 Blyth Offering Insurance & (519) 523-9110 Fax: (519) 523-9278 Financial Services Clinton Office: (519) 482-3434 Farm/Commercial/ Residential/Auto email:phallahan odyssey.on.ca Accident/Sickness D.S.I Curling Begins The Brussels Curling Club began its 2001-2002 season Monday night. Jeff Cardiff and Mary TenPas were happy to get the season off to a good start with their team picking up a win with a steal of one in the final end. (David Blaney photo) WsOfFinl Myprit'On- brussels.walton ThAlIBLAZERS O.F.S.C. PERMITS ON SALE NOW Buy on or before Dec. 1/01 $130.00 After Dec. 1/01 $160.00 Permit outlets: B & K, Brodhagen: Middegaal Pool and Sports; Vincent's Farm Machinery; Seaforth U.A.P.: Winthrop General Store: McGavin's, Walton: G & M Auto Parts, Brussels; Radford's, Brussels; Faust's lidwe., Mitchell; Mitchell Massage Therapy. Buy before Dec. 1/01 get in on our Early Bird Draw V.I.N. A MUST (new this year) (Vehicle, Identification No.) DRIVER'S TRAINING COURSE DEC. 8/01 For more information and pre-register Contact Ken Hunsberger: 519-348-8025 RIDE SAFE DRIVE SOBER Brussels beats Lucknow Lucknow squads were hurt this past week when the Brussels Pee Wee Local League team stormed into town to play two games. On Nov. 23 the visitors took on Lucknow #1 and skated to a 10-1 victory. The team went up by four in the first period with goals by Brad McKague, two, Adam McClure and Steven Ropp. Assists went to Ropp with two, Scott Phillips, Mitch Blake and Chase Chapman. Things were a little quieter in the second with McKague scoring the lone goal to complete his hattrick. Jordan Campbell earned the assist. Though Lucknow managed to sneak on by a solid Zach Horne in the Brussels net early in the third, the visitors answered with five of their own. Scoring were McClure with two, James Cochrane, Shane Cochrane and Ropp. Assisting were McClure, Chapman, Scott Phillips with two and Blake. Horne was back in net for Brussels Nov. 25 in Lucknow when the squad downed the Lucknow #2 team 12-2. It was a quiet first period until the dying seconds when Ropp put one past the hosting netminder, only to have Lucknow respond with one of Atom Bulldogs lose close ones The Blyth Atom Bulldogs have had a tough November so far, win- ning one and losing four in WOAA league play. Nov. 1 saw them lose 5-2 at home to Mildmay with Roman Sturzenegger and John McDowell netting their only scores. One week later the result was much closer with the visiting Normanby squad needing three third period goals to win a squeeker 5-4. McDowell again provided some fire- power scoring two in the first with a single helper from Derek Youngbut. He helped Mat Stevenson net one in the second to complement Thomas Lecomte who beat the Normanby netminder with the help of Tony Bean. Nov. 9 saw the squad away at Wallace Twp. and although the score was close, three first period goals provided too steep a hill for the Bulldogs to climb and they ended up on the wrong side of another 5-4 decision. Curtis Robertson, Kenny Plunkett, Youngblut and Bean all scored for Blyth with Bean getting two helpers and Robertson and Byron Broome having one each. Nov. 17 saw the team at a tourna- ment in Ayton. Here they exacted some revenge for their earlier loss beating Normanby 7-1. They went on to lose to Shallow Lake and tie Belmore but their efforts were rewarded with a second place finish. Mount Forest came to visit on Nov. 22 and the Bulldogs ate them up with five second period goals. Youngblut led the charge with two followed by Lee Watkins, Plunkett and Lecomte with one apiece. Broome, Bean, McDowell, Robertson and Plunkett all had helpers. When • Clifford came to visit on Nov. 23 the - locals suffered another close loss. Lecomte scored unassist- ed in the first. McDowell made it close in the third scoring twice assisted by Robertson and Stevenson. At the final buzzer how- ever the Bulldogs found they had fallen just short with the score 4-3 against. their own. Phillips got the assist on Ropp's goal. The second period saw Brussels take the lead again when McClure dumped one off a combination play from Blake and Campbell. Lucknow tied it a minute later, but the home- town applause bwely had time to cool before Chapman bulged the twine to put the visitors ahead for the third time. Campbell assisted. During the past year, provincial law for snowmobiling changed sig- nificantly. This column isn't intend- ed to argue the merits of the new law, called Bill 101, but to tell snowmo- bilers what to expect this season. I also want to help dispel any myths or rumours. Essentially, Bill 101 has two com- ponents: trail safety and trail sustain- ability. The sustainability aspect includes provisions that require any recreational snowmobile to have and display a valid snowmobile trail per- mit when using a trail operated by a member club of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs. Enforceable by police agencies, STOP and Conservation Officers, the provincial fine for failure to have a valid permit ranges from a mini- mum of $200 to a maximum of $1,000. The new permit requirement applies to OFSC trails on both pri- vate property and Crown land, but exempts most commercial users such as licenced trappers, prospectors and bait harvesters. plus landowners, their tenants (or Crown land tenants) and immediate family members and Aboriginal people. Although not in place at time of writing, a limited exemption of some kind is also like- ly for certain ice fishermen. The per- mit requirement does not apply to snowmobiles not using OFSC trails. While Bill 101 involves govern- ment in the trail permit process, it does not give government any con- trol, authority or ownership of any snowmobile trails or privately owned land. It does not prevent any member of the public from undertak- ing other winter activities on Crown land, such as hiking, cross country skiing or snowshoeing, nor does it stop snowmobiles from using Crown land without a permit, except on OFSC trails. All of the revenues col- From here on in it was all Brussels as the team launched an onslaught that saw four more goals in the sec- ond and five in the third, all unan- swered. Pointgetters were Ropp with two, McDonald, J. Cochrane, McClure with two, S. Cochrane, Blake and Campbell. Earning assists were Chapman with two, Blake with two, Ropp with two and McDonald. lected from the sale of snowmobile trail permits still go to OFSC clubs for their trail operations, with no amount being retained by the gov- ernment. One change in the permit process directly impacts permit buyers. Previously, permit buyers automati- cally received free OFSC benefits such as a magazine subscription, a trail guide and map atlas and a death and dismemberment benefit worth $1,500. While buyers may still receive these benefits, they are no longer automatic, but require the buyer to sign up for them at the time of permit purchase. Those who for- get to sign up will not receive bene- fits as they have in the past. From a safety perspective, Bill 101 contains provisions that more close- ly align the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act, the Highway Traffic Act and the Trespass to Property Act. Together, Bill 101 and its supporting regulations increase both police enforcement powers and associated penalties. A safe rule of thumb for snowmobilers is to assume that all the rules of the road applicable to driving your automobile on a public road now apply to operating a snow- mobile. Penalties incurred while snowmobiling will directly impact your driver's licence and ability to continue driving your car legally. To view the complete Motorized -Snow Vehicles Act, check out www.e-laws.gov.on.ca Until next time remember to be a Safe Rider this winter. For trail condition reports check ofsc.on.ca Craig Nicholson is a regular con- tributor to Snow Goer, Canada's Snowniobiling Magazine. The Intrepid Snowmobiler also appears on radio and on Snowmobiler Television. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author.