The Timmins Police is cracking down on off-road vehicles in South Porcupine.
According to police, they've received a number of persistent complaints about ATVs and dirt bikes on the Bart Thompson nature trail at the north end of Legion Drive, as well on the adjacent open properties north of Helen Street.
"As a proactive measure, the Timmins Police Service - Traffic Section is seeking the cooperation of such off road vehicle operators to heed this public advisory in terms of securing their compliance," reads a news release.
"Additional patrols are being undertaken and any such operators found to be in violation of the applicable statutes will be addressed as severely as possible by means of the issuance of Provincial Offence Notices which carry hefty fines, or summonses to provincial court."
At a recent council meeting, Coun. John Curley floated the idea of trial period for allowing ATVs on certain streets, similar to program opening up access for snowmobiles over the past couple of winters. No decision was made on the item. A report is expected at an upcoming meeting.
Police are reminding people that the Bart Thompson Trail system, the undeveloped land north of Helen Street, and the OFSC trail system in Timmins are deemed private property and off-limits to off-road vehicles.
"Any usage of this trail system by operators of ATVs, dirt bikes or any motorized vehicles is prohibited as an infraction of the Trespass to Property Act and the Off Road Vehicles Act," reads the news release.
Anyone with relevant information about who is using the area illegally are asked to call the Timmins Police traffic section at 705-264-1201. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
