S.T.O.P. Marks 10th Anniversary as Highly Acclaimed Safety Program

Barrie, ON. January 14, 2002: The ground-breaking OFSC Snowmobile Trail Officer Patrol (S.T.O.P.) Program celebrates its tenth anniversary with partnership support from Lombard Canada, Allianz Canada and the Supertrax International Snowmobilers Show. The trail safety and enforcement program, which began in Sudbury in 1991, has since expanded to 15 regions throughout snowbelt Ontario. Last winter, S.T.O.P. officers volunteered almost 10,000 hours for trail patrols, assisting police in checking about 38,000 snowmobiles.

“The overall objective of S.T.O.P. is to reduce serious injuries and fatalities and the incidence of drinking and riding on OFSC snowmobile trails,” commented OFSC Provincial S.T.O.P. Coordinator Special Constable John Marcil. “I’m pleased to report that S.T.O.P. is accomplishing its mission: the S.T.O.P. areas of the province accounted for only 26% of fatalities last season. Meanwhile, alcohol involvement has been reduced from 75% in 1995/96 to less than 43% in 2000/01.”

As Ontario’s foremost ‘community policing’ initiative, S.T.O.P. is a partnership between the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs and the Ontario Provincial Police and sometimes, other regional police agencies. S.T.O.P. volunteers, sworn in by the Province of Ontario as Special Constables/Provincial Offences Officers enforce snowmobile laws and assist police with sobriety checks, alcohol interdiction efforts and addressing snowmobile-related nuisance complaints.

The success of S.T.O.P. as one of the most effective OFSC education and enforcement programs was recently affirmed by a Coroner’s Jury, whose recommendations included a strong endorsement for the expansion of the program. In recognition of ten years of service to snowmobiling safety in Ontario, S.T.O.P. was also recently honoured with a Commissioner’s Commendation from the OPP.

S.T.O.P. officers will be on patrol again this winter on OFSC snowmobile trails. The program is currently active in East Algoma, Haliburton/Kawarthas/Durham, Huronia South, Lanark, Muskoka, Noelville/Warren, North Bay, Parry Sound, Sault Ste. Marie, Simcoe, Sudbury, Temiskaming, Thunder Bay/Nipigon, and Upper Ottawa Valley. New S.T.O.P. areas are developed when local O.P.P. detachments, municipal police and snowmobile clubs agree to form a local partnership. New areas under consideration include Chapleau, Fort Frances, Manitouwadge/Marathon, Northumberland, Ottawa and Stormont/Dundas/Glengarry. Anyone interested in becoming a S.T.O.P. officer should call John Marcil at (705) 494-4931.

In addition to Lombard, Allianz, Supertrax and Ontario Snowmobiler Magazines, other S.T.O.P. financial sponsors include the Insurance Bureau of Canada, MASS Insurance, and Road Safety Value Partnership, while product sponsors supporting the program are Arctic Cat, Hyland Trailers, Ice Rider by Mustang, Kimpex, Polaris, Shell Lubricants, Ski-Doo, The Shop Industrial, and the Trail Smart Insurance Program.

The OFSC is committed to promoting safe, responsible riding on Ontario snowmobile trails by continuously improving safety standards, programs and enforcement through proactive leadership, stakeholder partnerships, public education and driver training.

for further information,contact:
Ron Purchase,
General Manager
(705) 739-7669