Drivers blow stop signs despite police at every corner

Even with an officer on every corner, police can’t catch all of the drivers violating the city’s newest four-way stop.

The corner of Brodie Street and Donald Street has been a lot busier since the temporary bus terminal was set up at city hall, especially for pedestrian traffic.

As a result the city installed a four-way stop at the intersection. After numerous complaints that people weren’t stopping, Thunder Bay Police Service decided to take a look for themselves. With a plain-clothes officer on the intersection and a police car in every direction, Staff Sgt. Alan McKenzie said over the past two days dozens of fines have been issued.

"As a result of complaints from the community we’ve realized that not many people have recognized the new stop signs so we’re responding to that complaint and we’re finding that in fact there are a lot of infractions at this particular intersection," McKenzie said. "Just in this short time we have five staff members tied up on this intersection and it’s still not enough to keep up with the infractions."

In one 20-minute period on Friday afternoon, 12 violations were witnessed with six tickets being issued.

McKenzie said even when drivers do stop they may not stop soon enough. Vehicles that come to the complete stop are often in the pedestrian crossing, which can also cause problems.

"If you don’t stop (at the stop line) what you’re doing is in fact stopping in the crosswalk, which has pedestrians walking into the intersection to get around you which creates a whole other hazard for the pedestrian as well as other drivers," McKenzie said.

Unlike the grace period given for cell phone use while driving, McKenzie said stop signs are nothing new so no warnings will be given.

Anyone caught not coming to a complete stop will be given a $110 fine.