Essential volunteer patrollers | JDM

Every winter, an army of volunteer patrollers criss-cross the snowmobile trails throughout Quebec. Their goal is to ensure the safe practice of the activity and to neutralize offenders who act without thinking.

“Currently, we can count on 1,200 volunteer patrollers who patrol our trails,” explains Jocelyn Desfossés, logistics and safety supervisor for the Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec. In this number, we have a mixture of two types of patrollers, namely those who report to clubs and 110 who report directly to the Federation. »

To become a patroller, the interested person has very specific steps to take.

“It’s not very complicated, but there is still a procedure. The interested person must show up at his club. Once he obtains the consent of the club, he is asked to notify us of his intentions via our registration platform. He fills out an application and sends us a passport-style photo and a criminal background check form. From then on, we check everything. Once the person is accepted, they must participate in our training workshops. We are currently in our workshops in all regions of Quebec. »

TRAINING TO REDO

Once completed, the training is not for life. The patrolman must return to workshops.

“Training is renewable every four years,” explains the expert. This means that among the newcomers for the 2022-2023 season, there may be old ones. They must go through the entire process to obtain their certification. »

Club volunteer patrollers have a role to play and specific powers to exercise.

“Club patrollers have a little less power than provincial patrollers. They must stay within the boundaries of their club to patrol. They can only wear their bib when they are on duty. It is orange in color. »

In addition, they are entitled, according to the law, to the same respect as a provincial patroller when they intercept a snowmobiler.

“That means they have the right to demand the driver’s license and the snowmobile registration papers,” adds Mr. Desfossés. They can also sell a right of access on the trail to the person who travels without holding it. We are talking here about an amount of $800. »

Those of the Federation can go further, where the provincial patrol officers have the power to issue statements of offence.

“For example, modified exhausts or even if there is an anomaly on the snowmobile or no right of access, are situations where he can act. They must ask the police for help for certain interventions, such as towing a snowmobile that has an exhaust that does not comply. They will then escort the offending snowmobiler to the road and wait for the snowmobile to be on the trailer and for someone to pick up the snowmobiler. »

THEY GO EVERYWHERE

Their name says it, they are provincial patrollers, which means that they can circulate throughout Quebec.

“For example, a provincial patrol officer in the Quebec City region will be able to lend a hand to his colleagues in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, if they ask for it. They report directly to the Federation. »

As for training, it is exactly the same as for club patrollers.

“There is no difference between what is presented to the two groups. It will discuss articles of law, signage, interception methods, what to do if a snowmobiler is more aggressive or does not understand. To become a provincial patroller, a club patroller must have done two seasons for his club, before applying. »

In the new version of Bill 71, a provincial patroller can leave the trail to run after a wandering snowmobiler in order to intercept him.

VAGABONDAGE, SKI-DOO IS INVOLVED

BRP is committed to promoting responsible driving and increasing its efforts to educate all fans in the motorsports community to drive responsibly. Enthusiasts are encouraged to rethink their approach to safety, the environment and driving etiquette.

As part of its « Je m’engage » program, Ski-Doo is calling on the entire snowmobiling community to provide a collective effort to preserve access to trails on private and public land, and of backcountry winter games. Trespassing and unauthorized off-trailing threaten snowmobilers’ right of access. Ski-Doo encourages all snowmobilers to be responsible and committed to ensuring the continuity of the sport for current and future generations.