Stepped up enforcement of city bylaws along the waterfront has meant a happy ending for one local motorcycle owner who had his bike stolen last fall.

Acting bylaw manager Dave Pruden said this morning that last Tuesday, officers were called by a woman who had heard of the bylaw department's plans to strengthen its presence on the waterfront and issue tickets to those violating city bylaws.

She reported seeing a motorcycle on the riverfront trail, which doesn't allow motorized vehicles.

An officer was soon down there where they found the reported small, red CRF70 Honda trail bike underneath a Yukon River lookout around the end of Main Street at First Avenue.

The woman who initially contacted the department called back and reported seeing the driver stash the bike and take off on foot when he saw the bylaw officer coming towards the waterfront.

Under section 31 of the city's ATV bylaw, the officer seized the bike for being operated in an area it's not supposed to be and being abandoned, Pruden explained.

Section 31 states: "An officer may seize any all-terrain vehicle being operated in breach of this bylaw and may retain custody of the same until the determination of the charge respecting such breach and the owner shall upon conviction and before release of such all-terrain vehicle satisfy the costs of seizure and storage.”

After seizing the bike, the bylaw officer then contacted RCMP.

"It did come back as stolen,” Pruden said, noting that bylaw turned it over to the RCMP to deal with the bike's owner.

RCMP Sgt. Don Rogers said this morning the bike had been reported stolen about last October.

Since being recovered last week, it's been returned to the rightful owner, Rogers said.

While bylaw officials cannot be entirely certain it's the same motorcycle, Pruden noted a number of calls have come in recently from Riverdale reporting a bike of the same

description being driven in areas where bikes and ATVs are not supposed to be.

As for whether any charges would be laid if the reported driver of the bike was found, Pruden noted criminal charges would be up to the RCMP, while bylaw officers would have to consider the best course of action for any bylaw breaches.

If there were enough evidence and the driver located, he could face charges of theft and possession of stolen property, Rogers said.

Pruden and Mayor Bev Buckway noted, in a statement, their thanks to the local resident who phoned in on the matter.

"We would like to thank citizens of the City of Whitehorse for their participation in this public safety effort as well as the RCMP for their quick response in this incident,” Pruden said.

"We will continue to monitor the waterfront as well as other areas to ensure that city residents can enjoy public areas safely.”

While officers weren't able to find the errant driver in this case, Pruden noted that with the exception of a couple of tickets issued to those who didn't have their dogs leashed, overall the increased enforcement on the waterfront is proving successful. Many trail users are keeping their dogs leashed, cleaning up after their animals and keeping ATVs off the trail, he added.

"I think that people have heard the message,” he said.