Thunder Bay Police Service Media Release
THUNDER BAY - By now the general public is aware that the Thunder Bay Police Traffic Unit has been installing a GoPro camera on some school buses. This is due to the number of issues with vehicles not stopping when the school bus comes to a complete stop and activates it's over head lights indicating they are about to load or unload students.
The fine for this violation is $490 and six demerit points. If the officer cannot identify the driver, the law allows the officer to issue a provincial offence notice to the owner of the vehicle which is $490. If convicted, this will remain on their record for five years and any subsequent convictions between this time, the fine will be not less than $1,000 and not more than $4,000 or imprisonment for a term not more six months or both.
On Mar. 23 at approximately 8:20 a.m., a school bus was travelling west bound on River Street and stopped just prior to Farrand Street to pick up a student. Thunder Bay Police had an unmarked cruiser in the area observing the stopped school bus and noticed that the center east bound lane traffic stopped for the school bus, while two east bound vehicles travelling in the curb lane proceeded through and did not stop. The officer caught up with the two vehicles and both drivers were issued a $490 fine.
On Mar. 24 at approximately 08:20 a.m. at the same location, the same officer observed another violation where the east bound driver in the curb lane failed to stop for the stopped school bus that was in the west bound curb lane with its overhead lights activated. This driver also received a $490 fine. Unfortunately, we did not have GoPro cameras on the bus during those two incidents.
Drivers should realize that these school buses are carrying the most precious and fragile cargo, our children. So please pay more attention when you're driving and when you see a school bus, be prepared to stop when they turn on their overhead lights.
