Ontario's Snowmobile Trail Officer Patrol Program ends after 20 years

Morning North8:16Snowmobile Trail Office Program ending after 20 years

The Snowmobile Trail Office Program also known as STOP is coming to an end. The program relied on special constables who volunteered their time to patrol the trails. We spoke with Terry Appleby, a special constable with STOP for 15 years.

Alack of resources is being blamed for the end of a 20-year-old program aimed at keeping people safe on Ontario's snowmobile trails.

Ontario'sSnowmobile Trail Officer Patrol Program was a partnership between provincial police andOntario Federation of SnowmobileClubvolunteers who were appointed as special constables, orSTOP officers, and who assisted the OPP with snowmobile patrol on OFSC Trails.

TerryApplebydecided to volunteer with the program after getting into a snowmobile accident involving a careless driver.

Applebywas aspecial constable with STOP for 15 years and saidhe's seen more people follow the rules with the program in place.

"Everybody in the program is very disappointed," he said."Very seldom do you find anybody without insurance, without a trail pass, without a driver's licence."

Applebywastrained toenforce speed limits and help with search and rescue missions.

Volunteers working without safety equipment

STOP began as a pilot program in Sudbury in 1995due to a number of alcohol-related fatalities.It has since appeared across the province in places like North Bay,Kapuskasingand Sioux Lookout.

Sudbury OPP constable DonBissonettetold CBC News thatSTOP hadundergone a number of changes over the years since it started. Policere-evaluated the program oversafety concerns for volunteers.Based on their review with the OFSC, both parties agreed to end it.

A lack of resources was one reasonfor the program's demise,Bissonetteadded.

"OPP officers carry aconsiderable amount of equipment to protect themselves while on the snowmobile control, such as flotation suits, first aid kits, survival kits, portable radios [and]ice picks," he said.

"The same equipment is also needed toensure the safety of the STOP volunteers and the OPP became concerned when the volunteers were working without this equipment."

BissonettesaidtheOPP will continue to enforce safety initiatives to encourage snowmobile safetydespite the program's end.

Program 'went downhill'

Even before the announcement that STOP was being discontinued, Appleby saidproper attention wasn't paid to the program.

"The whole program just kind of went downhill over the last couple of years. There was nobody really spearheading it anymore especially at the OFSC," he said.

"I don't think they put enough effort into keeping the program alive and didn't fight for it as much."

Even though there is no more STOP, Appleby saidthe work he did was fulfilling.

"Snowmobiling has a lot to do with families. They like to get out and be safe on the trails," he said."I thought, what can I do to prevent things like [the accident I had]from occurring?"

He saidhe'll continue helping others on the trails.

"I still stop and talk to people and give them directions," he said."It's a very rewarding experience and wewere glad to do it."