By Lara Fominoff @fomsy1 on Twitter

OHV riders must wear a helmet or face a stiff fine beginning May 15th

Apr 17, 2017 | 11:05 AM

LETHBRIDGE – In less than one month, OHV riders will have to wear helmets, or face a $155  fine if caught without one on public land.

That includes anyone operating ATVs, snowmobiles, dirt bikes, utility terrain vehicles and side-by-sides, according to the Alberta Off Highway Vehicle Association.

Last December, the Province passed Bill 36, “An Act to Enhance Off Highway Vehicle Safety.” It received Royal Assent April 11th from the province’s Lieutenant Governor and will be enforced beginning May 15th.

The Transportation Ministry says thousands of people are injured while riding every year, and many of those injuries involve head trauma. 

But there are exceptions, as outlined by the Provincial Transportation Ministry:

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• Individuals performing farm and/or ranch work
• Those of the Sikh faith who feel helmet use is incompatible with religious observance and are wearing a turban
• Individuals performing work regulated under Alberta’s “Occupational Health and Safety” laws who are using an approved alternative safety measure
• Individuals operating an OHV on First Nations or Metis Settlement lands
• A person or group that has/have been granted a case-by-case exemption from the Registrar of Motor Vehicle Services
• Those operating OHVs with manufacturer -supplied rollover protection and seatbelts, when seatbelts are being properly worn
• People operating motorized vehicles that meet the standards for a vehicle designed for use on a roadway, has seatbelt assemblies maintained in compliance with the “Vehicle Equipment Regulation” and when seatbelts are properly worn

The province says it will abide by CSA (Canadian Standards Association) regulations, and those who are also caught without an approved  helmet will face a $93 fine.