Last Updated: August 24 2026
When must a snowmobile accident be reported to police in Ontario?
Freed Legal Services can help if you are dealing with a snowmobile accident reporting obligation in Ontario: in general, the person in charge must report the accident “forthwith” to the nearest police officer if there are personal injuries or if damage to property appears to exceed $400, and “forthwith” is treated as within a reasonable time based on the circumstances If you fail to report, you may face a maximum fine of $1,000 on conviction under the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act, including s. 13 and the general penalty in s. 25; for guidance on what you should do next, call (800) 716-1897 to book help from a paralegal at Freed Legal Services.
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Does the Law Require That Police Be Notified of a Snowmobile Accident?
A Snowmobile Accident That Causes Injury or Damage Appearing As More Than $400 In Total Must Be Reported to Police.
Note: Please contact Freed Legal Services by phone at: (800) 716-1897 to discuss any specific questions that you may have.
Understanding the Mandate to Report a Snowmobile Accident Including Applicable Penalty For Failure to Do So
Just like the legal duty that applies when an automobile accident occurs, an accident involving a snowmobile must also be reported to police if an injury is involved or the damage involved appears as greater than the statutorily prescribed value. If an operator of a snowmobile fails to report a reportable accident, a charge may be brought against the operator.
The Law
When Must a Snowmobile Accident Be Reported to Police?
The requirement for the reporting of a snowmobile accident arises apart from the requirement to report an automobile accident which arises as per the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, whereas the requirement applicable to snowmobiles arises per section 13 of the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44. The requirements for the reporting of a snowmobile accident mandate reporting if an injury occurred or if the collective damage to the snowmobile, among other things, appears to exceed the sum of four hundred ($400.00) dollars. Specifically, the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act states:
Duty to report accident
13 (1) Every person in charge of a motorized snow vehicle who is directly or indirectly involved in an accident shall, if the accident results in personal injuries or in damage to property apparently exceeding $400, report the accident forthwith to the nearest police officer and furnish the police officer with information in respect of,
(a) the names and addresses of the persons involved;
(b) the date and location of the occurrence; and
(c) the circumstances under which the accident occurred.
As an interesting concern whereas the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act mandates the "forthwith" reporting of an accident, and yet the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act fails to provide a definition for what "forthwith" means, further reference is required and should be made to the Court of Appeal decision within R. v. Cameron, 2006 CanLII 6569 which states:
[6] Subsection 13(1)(c) of the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act provides that “[e]very person in charge of a motorized snow vehicle who is directly or indirectly involved in an accident shall, if the accident results in personal injuries or in damage to property apparently exceeding $400, report the accident forthwith to the nearest police officer and furnish the police officer with information in respect of … (c) the circumstances under which the accident occurred.” There are no reported decisions that interpret the meaning of “forthwith” in the context of this section of the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act. However, this section is virtually identical to the failure to report provision in s. 199(1) of the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8. Subsection 199(1) of the Highway Traffic Act has been interpreted to mean that someone involved in an accident must report it within a reasonable time having regard to all of the circumstances of the case. Both counsel appear to be in agreement that the interpretation to be given to the word “forthwith” should be the same in both statutes. The disagreement relates to how the forthwith requirement was applied.
Accordingly, per the Cameron decision, a snowmobile accident must be reported "forthwith" which is interpreted in the same manner as "forthwith" is interpreted for section 199(1) of the Highway Traffic Act, which is, "within a reasonable time having regard to all of the circumstances of the case".
Penalty
What Is the Punishment For Failing to Report a Snowmobile Accident to Police?
Whereas section 13 of the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act is silent, meaning lacking details, regarding the potential fine, reference to section 25 of the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act, being the section providing for a general penalty where a penalty is otherwise absent, is required. Specifically, section 25 of the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act states:
25 Every person who contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or the regulations is guilty of an offence and on conviction where a fine for the contravention is not otherwise provided for herein is liable to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
Accordingly, the fine for failing to report an accident as legally required is a maximum of one thousand ($1,000) dollars. Interestingly, and unlike most fines for an offence, the provision fails to prescribe a minimum fine.
Summary Comment
When an accident involving a snowmobile occurs, the owner or driver or any other "person in charge" of the snowmobile must report the accident to police if an injury is involved or if the damage appears to exceed four hundred ($400.00) dollars. Where a person required to report an accident fails to do so "forthwith", meaning within a reasonable time considering the circumstances involved, the person may be subjected to a fine of up to one thousand ($1,000) dollars.
NOTE: A considerable quantity of inquiries featuring “lawyers in my area” or “top lawyer in” typically signifies an urgency for competent legal assistance rather than a precise job title. In Ontario, licensed paralegals are governed by the same Law Society that regulates lawyers and are permitted to represent clients in specific litigation cases. Advocacy, legal assessment, and procedural expertise are fundamental to this function. Freed Legal Services provides legal representation within its licensed scope, focusing on strategic alignment, evidentiary preparation, and effective advocacy aimed at securing prompt and beneficial resolutions for clients.
