New penalties for misuse of Public Lands

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Jul 13, 2016 - Alberta.ca - Announcements
Penalties for violating public lands reinstated

The province will reinstate tickets and specified penalty amounts for violations on Alberta’s public lands effective August 6.

Government will reinstate previously approved specified penalties for offences under the Public Lands Administration Regulation (PLAR). When the PLAR consolidated four regulations in 2011, including the Forest Recreation Regulation, the violations were amended, however the specific ticket amounts were omitted.

“We need to protect and respect our public lands and those who don’t can now be ticketed on the spot. This approach will ensure enforcement personnel can be out on the land helping Albertans instead of spending their time in court.”
Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks

Penalty amounts for public lands offences range from $100 to $500, depending upon the nature of the violation. Enforcement officers may now ticket people for offences related to off-highway vehicle use, damage and destruction to resources, and inappropriate waste disposal.

The ability to issue tickets under the PLAR is another tool for enforcement personnel who may also issue written warnings, require the person(s) responsible to repair any damage they caused or compel the person(s) responsible to appear in court. Not all violations under this regulation, however, are ticket offences.

Government will initiate a public education and awareness campaign to inform Albertans about the specified fines. The campaign will include enforcement personnel informing users of public lands about the reinstated fines.

This May, government took steps to heighten enforcement on public lands through a co-ordinated effort by several enforcement agencies and use of the Report A Poacher line. Since May 1, Fish and Wildlife Officers, Conservation Officers and Seasonal Park Rangers have issued approximately 1,120 written warnings and 845 charges under various pieces of legislation.

Anyone who witnesses serious public lands abuse can phone the 24-hour Report A Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800.