Starting Nov. 1, off-road vehicle operators will have to pay to register their machines before they can use them on Crown land.

The registration and safety provisions become mandatory following passage of regulations in support of the Off-Road Vehicle Act.

According to the province, the new regulations will promote safe and responsible use of B.C.’s backcountry, and include provisions on number plate placement, rules for child operators and safety equipment requirements.

Voluntary registration has been in place since November 17, 2014. Since then, more than 35,000 users have registered. That will become mandatory Nov. 1.

The combined cost of the number plate and registration fee remains $48. Owners who already secured a plate during voluntary registration can, between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, bring their registration and plate to any ICBC broker and exchange it for a sticker at no charge.

After Dec. 31, an $18 fee will apply to exchange plates. As well, snowmobile owners who have already registered their vehicles under the Motor Vehicle (All Terrain) Act will be eligible for a refund, until Nov. 16, when they register under the ORV Act.

The refund will be for the amount they had already paid – $5 for transfers and $10 for registration.

The new operating standards include:

Helmets: Helmets must be worn when operating an off-road vehicle.

Seat belts: If a manufacturer has installed seat belts, then the seat belt must be worn

Lights: ORVs must use lights 30 minutes after sunset or 30 minutes before sunrise. If lights are not installed by the manufacturer, temporary lights can be attached, but must meet standards

Children: Children must be supervised when riding on Crown land and be riding an appropriate-sized ORV as recommended by the manufacturer

The regulations govern the rules of operation, safety standards, penalties and conditions of use for a wide range of ORVs, including snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles or “quads”, dirt bikes and side-by-sides