(PERTH COUNTY, ON) – The Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) wants to remind drivers of the rules and substantial fines pertaining to passing school buses when they are stopped with signals flashing. There have been several complaints of drivers passing stopped school buses throughout the county in the last few days.
The OPP want to remind all drivers that whether you’re on a city street, highway or county road, and regardless of the speed limit and the number of lanes, motorists travelling in both directions must stop when approaching a stopped school bus with its upper red lights flashing.
A flashing stop arm will swing out while passengers are boarding or leaving the bus. Once all passengers have boarded, the STOP arm will fold away. Do not start moving until the red lights have stopped flashing and the bus begins to move.
Vehicle owners need to be aware that if the driver can’t be identified, the owner can be charged for the offence provided the licence plate number is obtained by any witness.
If convicted, the driver/owner can be fined not less than $400 up to $2,000 for a first offence and to a fine not less than $1,000 – $ 4,000 or imprisonment for a subsequent offence(s). The penalty section also levies 6 Demerit Points to a drivers licence.
This law is in place to protect our most valuable resource, our children. Passing a stopped school bus is not only against the law; it is a potential lethal decision.