Fines double for snowmobilers without permits on P.E.I. trails

Islanders caught snowmobiling on the Confederation Trail without a permit are facing a stiff new fine.

Last weekend, after a request by the P.E.I. Snowmobile Association, the province hiked fines to $500 from $225.

The money from permit sales helps the association with the cost of grooming trails, which is increasing every year.

"We have reached numbers that we haven't seen since 1997, which was the peak of snowmobiling on Prince Edward Island and actually in North America," said association president Dale Hickox.

"We are up close to 2,500 snowmobile families on P.E.I. right now. It's a pretty exciting time for us."

Fines have encouraged Islanders to sign up for permits, Hickox said, as have new trails and great snow conditions over the past few years.

Permits for 2016 cost $300. The association offers a family discount for households that buy more than two permits.