tracked vehicle question?

[DanJahn]

Hi group.

I hope this question hasn't already been beat to death.

What are the road rules for tracked vehicles in the different provinces?

IE: Can they be registered, insured and driven on the road.

Here in BC there are a couple of halftracks and Bren Gun Carriers that have specialty plate status meaning their use is restricted.

It's the general feeling though that here in BC ICBC may not allow any more tracked vehicles on the road.

Thank you

Dan Jahn

[rob love]

In Manitoba a tracked vehicle may not be registered for road use. That has been the rule for at least 30 years that I know of.

But it gets worse. ABout 8 years or so back, when I went to safety and register my M38A1Cdn3 Jeep, the provincial registrar was not even sure they wanted "that type" of vehicle on the road.

[DanJahn]

Thank you Rob

Yes those of us with registered and insured tracked vehicles here in BC feel quite fortunate that we can use them.

I also had trouble many years ago trying to get collector plates for a M38A1 jeep.

The supervisor I had behind the counter thought along the same lines as the fellow you were dealing with.

Would like to hear from the other provinces on this subject.

Thank you

Dan

[Robin Craig]

I will comment but wont delve too deep as this is a public forum.

In the province of Ontario the essential flavour is no, and that is a no period.

To go any deeper is fraught with landmines.

As far as registering weird vehicles, or weird as other civvies see them, I specialise in doing it, and do it often. I get the paperwork right and get every i dotted and every t crossed.

Both driving a vehicle and registering one is a privilege and not a right in this province, and don't ever forget it because those are the words used when they "revoke your privileges".

I have over the years sorted out many peoples vehicle registrations by doing all the leg work and jumping through hoops.

There are many people who work in the system who regrettably don't see as much of a variety as others and give the wrong info out to us hobbyists.

Being patient and executing a tactical withdrawal (not a retreat) and regrouping with the correct information is the key.

Oh yes, an SMV sign is not a loophole, it is a liability.

Do it right and do it proper and when things go pear shaped you will be in the clear.

I know, I have been there.

Robin

[David Dunlop]

As Rob Love mentioned, here in Manitoba tracked vehicles are a " no no" unless it is a major construction vehicle 'helping to improve the local economy', in which case they turn a complete blind eye to it's presence on the roads and the damage done.

The law came into effect around World War One when roads were starting to improve and was initially geared to Agricultural Steam Engines with their huge cast steel wheels with heavy steel lugs. With the arrival of the tank in the war, a lot of attempts were made to convert farm equipment to tracks, but they still tore up the roads badly, so tracked vehicles were banned. This was the result of enough municipalities bitching up to the provincial government, who writes the rules via the Highway Traffic Act. Fast forward 30 years and a whole new family of vehicles arrive on the scene with fully rubber tracks (US Halftracks for example). You try to register one and the guy at the counter hears 'track' and automatically goes into rejection mode. And technically he is correct. The original law never differentiated steel versus rubber because there was no need to 100 years ago.

So what do you think the odds will be for the first Halftrack owner in Manitoba to get his vehicle registered? He's at the bottom of the latrine looking wayyy up at that shadowy government body looming overhead.

[rob love]

Actually David, Agricultural vehicles are exempt from registration and can operate on Manitoba roads and highways if they are performing agricultural functions. So if it was an attempt to restrict those vehicles, then it will have failed.

If the new halftrack owner is an ag-operator, then a few bales of hay in the back heading to a waiting customer should suffice. The vehicle will be insured under his farm insurance.