Situated immediately east of the City of Toronto, the Regional Municipality of Durham is one of the fastest growing centres in North America. The Region comprises an area of approximately 2500 square kilometers and is home to over 564,000 residents.

There are approximately 1100 kms of snowmobile trails, and five snowmobile clubs in our region.

S.T.O.P. was introduced into the Durham Region in 1999. The S.T.O.P. program has been a great success

Statistically speaking, as of 04 Mar 2007,

• 9309 snowmobiles were stopped, and of these snowmobiles,
  
• 1612 people were verbally warned for items such as speeding, documentation, loud mufflers,
  
• 150 Provincial Offence Tickets issued for items such as speeding, documentation, loud mufflers and,
  
• 13 arrests.
  
  

An important note about these stats is that the S.T.O.P. program in the Durham region is about education and not about writing tickets. Many people that were stopped a second time, their attitudes and comments were extremely positive and most felt safer. We are also seeing more families returning to snowmobiling in our area.

In the Durham region there has been a steady decline in the number of warnings and Provincial Offence Tickets issued in relation to the number of people stopped since the program started. This is great because it shows the Durham snowmobile communities are more aware of the snowmobile laws, and voluntarily compiling with them.

But there are the exceptions out there that figure that “we are ruining the sport”. Sorry to say they are ruining the sport with their reckless abandonment and they are our primary focus. Please understand that snowmobiling is a responsibility as well as a sport.

Have a great (SAFE!) snowmobiling season and we'll see you out there!