Perth County OPP will conduct focused patrols after receiving a number of complaints from bus drivers and concerned parents about vehicles passing stopped school buses with their red lights flashing.
Police say the majority of offences are occurring between 8 and 8:30am at Perth Line 26 near Harmony and Highway 7/8 between Little Lakes and Stratford.
Perth OPP are warning motorists they plan to patrol school bus pick up locations and enforce the law. Illegally passing a school bus comes with six demerit points and a fine of up to $2,000. for a first offence.
Police urge bus drivers, parents and motorists to report any incidents.
Here are some tips.
- Report the incident to police immediately.
- Provide the make, model, colour, and licence plate number of the vehicle.
- Provide the location, date and time of the incident.
- It is helpful if you have a description of the driver.
- -Ensure that the vehicle being passed was “chrome yellow” and it had the words “school bus” at both the front and rear of the bus?
- Was it a large or a small school bus?
- Was the school bus stopped?
- Were the upper red lights of the school bus flashing while it was stopped?
- Were there passengers boarding or exiting the school bus?
- Did the vehicle pass the bus from the front or from behind the bus?
