(Oro-Medonte, ON) – On Sunday December 1, 2013 at approximately 12:05 A.M. officers from the Barrie Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) attempted to stop a southbound Lincoln Town Car on Highway 11 south in Oro-Medonte Twp that appeared to be swerving on the road and failed to stop for police. An officer was stopped with motor vehicle as the result of a traffic violation. While dealing with the violator the Town Car passed the officers closely and had failed to move over into another lane. Traffic conditions were very light on the highway. The officer commenced following the motor vehicle with cruiser lights activated. The motor vehicle continued driving south and made no effort to slow or pull over on the paved shoulder. The officer continued following the motor vehicle, which was weaving on the roadway. The officer suspected the driver maybe impaired by the consumption of alcohol. A tire deflation device was deployed on Highway 11 south of Line 11 in Oro-Medonte Twp, which resulted in the driver stopping. The driver was arrested for flight from police. Jerry GOULD, age 67 years, of North York, was charged with Fail to stop for Police [PURSUIT] contrary 216 of the Highway Traffic Act and Fail to move into another lane for emergency vehicle – if safe to do contrary 159(3) of the Highway Traffic Act. He is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice located in Barrie on February 7th, 2014.
OPP are reminding motorists of Ontario’s Move Over law. This law applies to all motorists who are approaching a police, fire or ambulance vehicle in the same direction of travel, stopped on the roadside with its lights flashing. Drivers in this situation are required to slow down and pass with caution, but if the road has multiple lanes, drivers must move over into another lane, if it can be done safely.
Many drivers ignore this law. Since 1989, 5 OPP officers who were tending to their duties on the side of the road when they were killed by approaching vehicles and many of our emergency partners have also died at the hands of careless drivers in the same situation.
The OPP is reminding motorists that because this law was introduced 10 years ago (in 2003), the grace period during which officers tend to raise awareness of a new law and let people off with a warning is no longer in effect and violating this law comes with a $400 to $1200 fine and 3 demerit points upon conviction.