Q-2, r. 9 - Regulation respecting motor vehicle traffic in certain fragile environments

Updated to 18 July 2013

This document has official status.

chapter Q-2, r. 9

Regulation respecting motor vehicle traffic in certain fragile environments

Environment Quality Act

(chapter Q-2, ss. 31, 115.27, 115.34 and 124.1).

1. Motor vehicle races, rallies and competitions are prohibited in marshes, swamps, peat bogs and on dunes, offshore bars and beaches.

O.C. 1143-97, s. 1.

2. Motor vehicles are prohibited on the dunes in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, except on designated trails developed in accordance with the law. Elsewhere in Québec, they are prohibited on dunes in the domain of the State.

O.C. 1143-97, s. 2.

3. Motor vehicles, with the exception of snowmobiles, are prohibited in peat bogs in the domain of the State, south of the St. Lawrence River, its estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

This section does not prohibit the recovery of big game within the meaning of section 1 of the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife (chapter C-61.1), that was killed in connection with lawful hunting.

O.C. 1143-97, s. 3.

4. Motor vehicles other than snowmobiles are prohibited on the beaches, offshore bars, in marshes and swamps situated on the littoral of the St. Lawrence River (downstream from Pont Laviolette), its estuary, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Baie-des-Chaleurs and the islands found there.

This section does not prohibit lawful hunting, fishing or trapping, or motor vehicle traffic on designated trails developed in accordance with the law, or the use of motor vehicles to access private property.

For the purposes of this section, “littoral” has the meaning assigned by the Protection Policy for Lakeshores, Riverbanks, Littoral Zones and Floodplains (chapter Q-2, r. 35).

O.C. 1143-97, s. 4; O.C. 320-2006, s. 2.

5. This Regulation does not prevent the use of motor vehicles to carry out work.

O.C. 1143-97, s. 5.

6. This Regulation applies to reserved areas and agricultural zones established in accordance with the Act respecting the preservation of agricultural land and agricultural activities (chapter P-41.1).

O.C. 1143-97, s. 6.

6.1. A monetary administrative penalty of $250 in the case of a natural person or $1,000 in other cases may be imposed on any person who uses a motor vehicle other than a snowmobile

(1)  on the dunes in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, except on designated trails developed in accordance with the law, or on any other dunes in the domain of the State, as prohibited by section 2;

(2)  in peat bogs in the domain of the State situated in the areas referred to in the first paragraph of section 3, as prohibited by that section;

(3)  on the beaches, offshore bars, in marshes and swamps situated in the areas referred to in the first paragraph of section 4, as prohibited by that section.

O.C. 659-2013, s. 1.

6.2. A monetary administrative penalty of $350 in the case of a natural person or $1,500 in other cases may be imposed on any person who organizes or participates in a motor vehicle race, rally or competition in a marsh, swamp or peat bog, or on a dune, offshore bars or a beach, as prohibited by section 1.

O.C. 659-2013, s. 1.

6.3. Every person who contravenes section 2, 3 or 4 commits an offence and is liable, in the case of a natural person, to a fine of $1,000 to $100,000 or, in other cases, to a fine of $3,000 to $600,000.

O.C. 659-2013, s. 1.

6.4. Every person who contravenes section 1 commits an offence and is liable, in the case of a natural person, to a fine of $2,000 to $100,000 or, in other cases, to a fine of $6,000 to $600,000.

O.C. 659-2013, s. 1.

7. (Omitted).

O.C. 1143-97, s. 7.

REFERENCES

O.C. 1143-97, 1997 G.O. 2, 4595

O.C. 320-2006, 2006 G.O. 2, 1344

O.C. 659-2013, 2013 G.O. 2, 1747