Special police constables coming to Durham
Patrol aims keep riders safe
BY LESLEY McMASTER Staff Writer

Durham's snowmobile trails will be in good hands in the future thanks to a new partnership between police and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs.

The Snowmobile Trail Officer Patrol (STOP) program gets under way in Durham Nov. 24 and appoints trained volunteers to act as special constables enforcing the Motorized Snow Vehicle act and other municipal and local bylaws.

"There are 2500 square kilometres of trail in Durham and only two (regional) officers to patrol them," explains Durham Regional Police Constable Doug Morse,. who co-ordinates the local program.

With those limited resources in mind, 10 to 15 STOP officers could help his men cover the area properly and target specific problems like impaired snowmobiling, reckless driving and speeding, Const. Morse points out.

Started in Sudbury in 1992, the STOP program starts at the local snowmobile club level, which distributes and helps screen applicants, since "they really know the people and in some cases have known them for years," Const. Morse states.

After a background check by police, the Ontario Provincial Police must take in 200 hours of combined riding along with Durham Regional police officers help train volunteers, who combined classroom and field work before being appointed special constables. Training is intense, according to Const. Morse. Special constables are sworn in after two years in the program, but it takes approximately four years to complete the full training, he says.

Since costs are covered by local snowmobile clubs, there "is no expense to the taxpayer," Const. Morse adds.

And statistics show the program has made an impact in making trails safer.

Three years before STOP was introduced, Sudbury suffered 15 snowmobile fatalities. By 1995 - three years after the program's start - that number had been reduced to four.

Still Const. Morse is quick to point out only about five per cent of all snowntobilers make up the troublemakers on the trails. The other 95 per cent are law-abiding citizens "out having a good time," he says.

"It's good for snowmobiling because it takes the recklessness out of it," adds Port Perry Snowmobile Club President Charlie Harper.

"It won't do the' rider out of any of the fun of snowmobiling." For more information, contact Const. Doug Morse, of the Durham Regional Police at 5791520, ext. 5100.

Special constable WilfAlaxander (left) and Durham Regional Police constable Doug Morse show off the two Snowmobile Trail Officer Patrol (STOP) snowmobiles which will be patrolling trails and lakes to stop drunk and reckless driving this winter.