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After May 5, snowmobiling on established trails is prohibited. In Finnmark, they can receive exemptions and request an extension until May 17 if snow conditions or animal welfare indicate so. This was not the case in Nord-Troms.
This has created strong reactions because Troms and Finnmark have become one county, with many responding to difference treatment.
Now, however, the Ministry of the Environment has turned around and in a letter now it seems that the interpretation of the rules has changed.
– It’s fantastic! We have applied for permission for many years in a row. The law will be the same in Troms and Finnmark.
This is stated by former leader of the Kåfjord Snowmobile Association, Einar Eriksen.
– Now I’m going to use the scooter trail to get closer to the fishing water and wait for the big coal to bite.
Snowmobile in Norway
- In Norway, snowmobiles are regulated by «Law of motor transport in gardens and rivers (Law of motor transport)“AND”Regulations for the use of motor vehicles in icy gardens and waterways»».
- The Motorized Transportation Law came into effect in 1978 and was revised in 1988 and 2015. Before this law was introduced, there was free movement in the garden.
- In some municipalities in Norway, a network of trails for recreational skiing with snowmobiles is organized. These are found in both northern and southern Norway.
- Motorized garden traffic law does not apply indoors, on private roads, on sea ice and in Svalbard.
- In traffic legislation, snowmobiles are known as belt motorcycles.
- The figure for the Norwegian snowmobile island has increased from 6,000 in 1975 to 30,000 in 1986, to 76,500 in 2014, and then 82,000 in 2015, according to the Ministry of Climate and Environment.
Source: NRK / Wikipedia / Lovdata.no.
– It goes without saying that he receives the same treatment within the same law. The conclusion in the letter should not be misunderstood, says Storting representative Kent Gudmundsen of Troms Right.
He is pleased that the difference treatment has disappeared and understands that people have been treated unfairly.
Deputy Representative Kent Gudmundsen (H) is pleased that the Ministry is now releasing the rules.
Photo: Inghild Eriksen / NRK
– When the government and the ministry have been so quick to give feedback on this matter, I think it should also be possible for the county governor to be just as quick and go ahead and get that clarification before the weekend when the term expires.
Required when the period now expires on Sunday?
– For me, it’s a matter of principle. You have a legal administration clause and it is important that you receive the same treatment. And especially if you have the practice of the county man who is completely opposite, it provokes strong reactions. So it’s good for us to clean up, says Gudmundsen.
Equal treatment required
It was not just the Kåfjord Snowmobile Association that responded to the difference treatment.
Several municipalities in Nord-Troms requested equal treatment from Troms and Finnmark County Governor Elisabeth Vik Aspaker. All the requests were rejected.
Aspaker understands that mayors are responding, but has felt that regulations have given them no other choice.
The county council leader in Troms and Finnmark, Bjørn Inge Mo, asked the county governor to clean up.
– It is completely incomprehensible that the same municipalities in our region do not receive the same treatment. With the long winter snowfall we’ve had this year, the inequalities became very clear to the people of the northernmost region.
