North Bay Police say there have been a number of complaints from school bus drivers reporting motorists who have failed to stop for the bus’s upper red lights and extended stop arm.
Over the last 30 days, they have received reports of nine infractions:
- four on the 400 block of Algonquin Avenue;
- one on Main Street West;
- one on Murray Street;
- one on Bain Drive;
- one on Carmichael Drive; and
- one of the 600 block of McKeown Avenue.
Motorists approaching a stopped school bus from the rear with its overhead red signals lights flashing, must stop at least 20 metres before reaching the bus and can't pass until the bus moves, or the overhead lights have stopped flashing.
Motorists approaching the front of a stopped school bus with its overhead red signal lights flashing must stop before reaching the bus and not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead lights have stopped flashing. The only exception is on highways divided by a median.
Fines for failing to stop for a school bus:
- First offence: $400 to $2,000 and six demerit points.
- Each following offence: $1,000 to $4,000, six demerit points and possible jail time up to six months.
If the driver is not charged, the vehicle’s registered owner can be fined $400 to $2,000 for a first offence and $1,000 to $4,000 for subsequent offences within a five-year period if their vehicle illegally passes a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing.
