(THUNDER BAY, ON) On Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at approximately 8:14 am, an officer from the Thunder Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was on patrol on Highway 11/17 near Pine View Road. The officer had stopped behind a school bus that had all lights illuminated and the stop arm extended preparing to pick up children. At this time, the officer observed the driver of an east bound vehicle approach the bus and continued to proceed past the stopped bus.
A traffic stop was initiated and the 16 year old male driver was charged with Failing to Stop for a School Bus contrary to the Highway Traffic Act. The fine for this offence is $490 and 6 demerit points.
It is important for drivers to remember that the Ontario Highway Traffic Act section 175(11) states: “Every driver or street car operator, 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 shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing.”