North Bay Police say stop for the school bus

North Bay Police out with a reminder of stopping for school buses.

Police say there have been several complaints from school bus drivers that they’ve observed motorists not stopping for the buses red lights and extended stop arm.

Infact in the last 30 days there have been 9 reported infractions: Four on Algonquin Avenue and the others on Main Street West, Murray Street, Bain Drive, McKeown Avenue and Carmichael Drive.

Failing to stop for a school bus can result in a fine for a first offense from $400 to $2000 and six demerit points.

Additional offenses can result in fines from $1,000 to $4,000 thousand and a half dozen demerit points and even jail time.

Police point out there are fines for not stopping for school bus.

And if the driver isn’t charged the registered owner of the vehicle can be.

Those fines can range from $400 to $2,000 for a first offense and $1,000 to $4,000 for additional ofenses.

Reminder to motorists travelling in the same direction as a school bus: Motorists approaching a stopped school bus from the rear with its overhead red signals lights flashing, shall stop at least 20 metres before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves, or the overhead lights have stopped flashing.

Reminder to motorists travelling in the opposite direction as a school bus: Motorists approaching a stopped school bus with its overhead red signal lights flashing from the opposite direction, must stop before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead lights have stopped flashing. The only exception is on highways divided by a median, which is a raised, lowered or earth strip dividing a road where vehicles travel in both directions. Drivers on the other side of the median approaching from the opposite are not required to stop.

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).

Notice to vehicle owners
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. If the vehicle owner does not pay the fine, he or she will not be able to renew the vehicle’s permit.