Big gap in Ontario ATV definition excluding Argos!!

[Pretzel]

Read this quote from an official of my ATV club. I asked if I could register my 750 HDI 8 wheeler with snow tracks for my 2012 membership. I have always registered my Honda 500. I did not receive a yes or no, but an explanation that if any trail wardens saw me they would likely say nothing, but...
"If the Police are involved then there is something to worry about because an Argo does not meet Ontario's legal definition of an ATV. "
If there is anyone who can lead me to an explanation or legal ruling excluding Argos for use on our trails, please do so.
Also, I plan on using my Argo in a small local lake. I have my Ontario boat licence and will comply with all small craft laws applicable. Do I need to worry about police action there as well?! There must be precidents in Ontario allowing argos to be used legally on the water and on the trails.
As an interesting side note, I emailed the exact information and requests to Argo on their site over a week ago and they have not responded. The silence is deafening!

[smog]

here in Quebec, mine is registered as an off-road vehicule; more like a surveyor's tool vehicule than an ATV. They have multiple type of off road vehicules definition with a "catch-all" class.

(it was confirmed by the agent at the US-Can border and by an Ottawa gov worker for vehicule importation.)

As you are in Ontario, I would call Ontario Drive And Gear (the manufacturer) about it or at least call your local Argo dealer


And no, we are not allowed in the ATV or snowmobile trails. Reason given : excessive width, slow moving vehicule.

[North Country Tough]

I can only relay to you my own personal experience in regards to your first question,in the winter on O.F.S.C trails its a no,unless you have to use a part of the trail to access your property or cabin which is exactly the position Iam in,spring,summer,and fall the vehicle is licensed and insured and I have been checked by the OPP and the MNR and had no problems with either be sure you have proof with you,most ATV,s can be operated on some northern highways with restriction,s Argo,s and similar more than 4 wheel vehicles can not.As far as water operation same rules apply to the Argo in the water as do pleasure craft,again I access my cottage by water and have used a AATV for 40 plus years and have been checked a few times mostly recently as they have amended the boats rules and regs,again had no issue but all safety equipment was in place and all documentation,hope this helps again only my personal experience.NCT

[Pretzel]

Thanks for your reply, Master Mudder. I did notify ODG and have heard nothing back from them. I am meeting my Argo dealer in Beaverton this Sunday to pick up my 2001 6 wheeler and will ask him for sure.

[Pretzel]

Very helpful NCT! Thanks.

[babycakes]

If I can get it insured and licensed, can I not drive it on a back road to get to the trails? I'm new at this!

[plott hound]

Thanks for your reply, Master Mudder. I did notify ODG and have heard nothing back from them. I am meeting my Argo dealer in Beaverton this Sunday to pick up my 2001 6 wheeler and will ask him for sure.

say hello to roy for me.

[brebett]

Worst than everything I heard that here ( in québec) we're not aloud to drive the argo ( or any amphib) out of the water ( even a beaver dam) on his power. They say that it damages the shore line. But I never had any problem with that. A couple of times I had game agent in my argo and I brought them across the beaver dam on it's power. They didn't say anything

[North Country Tough]

Worst than everything I heard that here ( in québec) we're not aloud to drive the argo ( or any amphib) out of the water ( even a beaver dam) on his power. They say that it damages the shore line. But I never had any problem with that. A couple of times I had game agent in my argo and I brought them across the beaver dam on it's power. They didn't say anything

Jack I have not run into this in Ontario,the Ministry natural resources have checked me on back lakes where I traveled to fish and where satisfied and never questioned how I entered the lake,at the cottage I enter on a boat launch and exit on my property and have had the OPP our provincial police follow and check me they were satisfied as all boating equipment and registration/insurance was in place.I think some times if you are at least acting like a law abiding citizen and not tearing up the countryside they may overlook some of the more obscure regulations.NCT

[nexxium]

Jack I have not run into this in Ontario,the Ministry natural resources have checked me on back lakes where I traveled to fish and where satisfied and never questioned how I entered the lake,at the cottage I enter on a boat launch and exit on my property and have had the OPP our provincial police follow and check me they were satisfied as all boating equipment and registration/insurance was in place.I think some times if you are at least acting like a law abiding citizen and not tearing up the countryside they may overlook some of the more obscure regulations.NCT

NCT. do you have your argo registered as a boat, with boater insurance?

[brebett]

No I don't. I don't go in real lake. I go in big beaver pound and so on. The problem is that supposably that we can't drive it on power in any type of water. But I never saw that writen in a law. That's what I've heard.

[North Country Tough]

NCT. do you have your argo registered as a boat, with boater insurance?

Ontario had some strange thoughts on where to put a Argo in the scheme of things,for what seemed like forever I checked with our local Ministry of transport and in their book they had a picture of a Argo and below that a picture of a Paving machine and said these vehicle,s were except from registration,hard to believe but Iam serious so I had them get me copy,s and carried them for years,then about 5 or 6 years or so back they decided to lump them in with ATV,s they dont truly fit that class but it was the best our wise provincial boy,s could come up with so its registered ATV and insured as that,if I sunk the damn thing probably wont be covered.NCT

[ArgoGirb67]

I have my 78 6 wheel registered with off road vehicle plate,and have a slow moving vehicle sign on back.OPP have passed me several times on gravel roads and never give me a second look!One stopped me to find out what i was driving,never asked for any paperwork!Several years ago when Argo's were lumped with ATV's we lost the helmet exemption!

[Slimpickin]

I'd license and insure it and drive it where you would drive any other atv. You can't tell me that four wheel atv's are not going into or coming out of water.
Sounds like you have some know it all official interpreting the law. If the government will license and insure it, I'd be happy to explain my position in front of a judge
if one of those meatheads wanted to push it that far.

Slim

[Castro]

In Vermont (USA) they just came up with a new classification ASV all surface vehicle