(SOUTH HURON, ON) – Less than two weeks into the school year and police have already charged a local driver with Failing to Stop for a Stopped School Bus. Fortunately this time a collision did not occur and nobody was injured.
On September 14, 2015 at 8:47 a.m. a Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer was completing school zone patrols when he observed a stopped school bus with the overhead red signal-lights flashing and the stop arm activated. While the school bus driver was assisting a student onto the bus a Pontiac Torrent approached travelling eastbound on Sanders Street West toward William Street. The officer watched as the driver of the Torrent failed to come to a stop for the school bus and continued on through the stop sign. The officer subsequently pulled the vehicle over and spoke with the driver.
The 34-year-old driver Alexa REGIER from Exeter was charged under the Highway Traffic Act with Fail to Stop for School Bus.
Huron County OPP would like to remind all drivers to be extra careful and observant for children on or near roadways particularly during the hours when children are being picked up and dropped off from school. Huron OPP would also like to remind all drivers the importance of knowing the law as it applies to school buses stopped on the roadway with alternating red lights flashing.
Every driver, when meeting on a highway, other than a highway with a median strip, a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal lights flashing, shall stop before reaching the bus and not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead lights have stopped flashing. When approaching a school bus from the rear that has its overhead signal lights flashing the driver shall stop at least 20 meters before reaching the bus and not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead lights have stopped flashing.
The penalties upon conviction are as follows:
First Offence- Fine of $400 – $2,000 and 6 demerit points
Each subsequent conviction- $1,000 to $4,000 Fine and/or imprisonment up to 6 months
Something else vehicle owner’s and drivers should be aware of – School bus drivers and other witnesses can report vehicles that have illegally passed a school bus. If you are the vehicle’s registered owner, these same fines may be applied to you.