Huron Expositor, 2009-07-01, Page 3News -A<?
OPIIKA
Huron farmers frust,rated with ATVs tearing up their crops
Federation decides to develop anti -trespassing campaign aimed at ATV riders
Dan Schwab
Huron County Federationof Agri-
culture members are frustrated with
ATV riders tearing up their crops.
The farm organization passed
a resolution at its general meet-
ing June 22 to develop a campaign
to warn ATV riders that trespass-
ing is an offence and also a serious
nuisance to landowners, -says HCFA
president Wayne Black.
Black says the HCFA wants to
work in co-operation with ATV clubs
and the OPP to ensure riders are
informed about the damage that is
caused by riding illegally in farmers'
fields.
"Generally, there is a lack of re-
spect .for property owners but also
a lack of knowledge among people
not from this area, but from urban
areas," Black says. "Whenever they
come to the countryside and see a
green space they think they can drive
through it. Even if there aren't any
South West LHIN
Help us Build A Healthier Tomorrow
Please attend an important community session and help
shape the future of health care in the south west.
In 2006,.the Ontario government created Local Health Integration
Networks (LHINs) to plan, coordinate and fund local health services.
As the South West LHIN works to update our three-year Integrated.
Health Service Plan, we are hosting a series of community sessions
throughout your area to:
• Share information about current trends and issues
• Listen to your ideas and concerns about the health care system
• Celebrate recent enhancements to the health care system
• Get your feedback on proposed priority areas for improvements
COMMUNITY DATE TIME
LOCATION
Listowel Monday, July 13, 2009 " 7-9 p.m.
Listowel Golf Club
8380 Fairlane Road
Seaforth Thursday, July 23, 2009 7-9 p.m.
•
Seaforth and District
Community Centre
122 Duke Street
Wingham Wednesday, July 29, 2009 7-9 p.m.
Knights of Columbus Hall
99 Kerr Drive
The public forums will have an 'open house'format allowing you
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. to arrive right at the start, you may want to aim for a one-hour
time commitment.
For more information visit us on the Web at
www.southwestlhin.on.ca or email southwest@lhins.on.ca
or call tefree 1-866-2945446.
A Healthier Tomorrow
"no trespassing" signs, they should
not be entering."
Black says he's heard from HCFA
members about their crops being
damaged and their lots ripped up
from ATV tracks.
He says the Maitland
ATV Club closed its
trails early because of
farmers complaining
the trails on their prop-
erties were being used
before May 1, which is
the official start date
for use on the trail.
"Before May 1, the
ground is still wet and
ATVs can mark up the
fields," Black says.
"They cause ruts, which
remain there all year."
Part of the HCFA's ed-
ucational campaign for
riders includes printing
a brochure highlighting
areas that are off-limits
to ATVs. Black says
he hopes to send the
brochures to ATV dealers
across Huron County, so when a per-
son buys a new machine, they'll get
the brochure along with their sales
package.
But so far, Black says l'esponse
from ATV clubs and the OPP has
been limited.
"I don't know why," Black says.
"With some ATV groups, there is a lot
of talk but not much enforcement."
Black says the situation with ATVs
carving up farmers' fields differs
from that with snowmobilers.
He says while both ATV and snow-
mobile clubs charge a membership
fee for riders to use their trails, only
snowmobile clubs enforce the rule
that only paying members are al-
lowed on their trails.
Black says the OPP has voiced its
frustration that a fine for trespass-
ing is too light, at $65.
He says the Ontario Federation. of
Agriculture policy has called for rais-
ing the minimum fine to $500, with
the maximum damage award being
raised from the existing $1,000 to
$10,000.
e ev
co
to the
countryside
and see a green
space, they
think they can
€rive through
wyne:: Bfack,,
IfECA president
Black says it's im-
portant that the OPP
is contacted if an ATV
rider is spotted ille-
gally trespassing in a
farmers' field.
"If you find tracks and
you never call the OPP,
they'll never know and
ATV trespassing won't
be a concern," he says,
adding that the OPP
will need a detailed
description of the ATV
and the rider. "Just
saying it was a red or
green four -wheeler
doesn't cut it."
Black says the OPP
will need a licence plate
number.
"Even if it's only a
partial identification on the plate
that's OK, because your neighbour
might get the other part," he adds.
Black says that although he 'be-
lieves it's only five or 10 per cent of
ATV users who ride illegally in farm-
ers' fields, the HCFA iS committed to
raising the fines for trespassing.
"The only way we'll be able to do
that is to lobby the province to have
the law changed," he says.
Although Black cannot estimate
howmany dollars in damage ATVs
have caused to farmers' fields, he
says some crops have become unhar-
vestable due extensive damage.
'He also says wire fences have been
• cut so ATV riders can drive across
some farms and that livestock have
been disrupted.
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