Maybe you were distracted and didn’t notice the school bus with its flashing red lights until it was too late – and instead of stopping, you passed the bus. Failing to stop for a school bus in Ontario is a serious offence.
The Highway Traffic Act of Ontario indicates that when a school bus is stopped with its red lights activated and “Stop” sign out, drivers must come to a complete stop and must not overtake the bus
Drivers who fail to stop for a school bus in Ontario face a $400 to $2,000 fine and six demerit points for a first offence. Subsequent offences carry a fine of $1,000 to $4,000, six demerit points and possible jail time.
It is important to know your rights if you have been charged with failing to stop for a school bus in Ontario. Because your license, your driving privileges and your insurance rates are so valuable to you, it’s important to have an experienced lawyer or professional on your side.
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What You Need to Know
About Overtaking a School Bus in Ontario
Whether on a city street, highway or county road, and
regardless of the speed limit and the number of lanes, drivers travelling in
both directions must stop when approaching a stopped school bus with its upper
red lights flashing. Drivers that fail to stop for a school bus in Ontario
face heavy fines and demerit points.
If you are found guilty, the penalties will be steep.
Consequences for
Failing to Stop
Upon conviction, failing to stop for a school bus can result
in the following fines:
- First offence – A fine of $400 to $2,000 and six
demerit points;
- Subsequent offence – Fine of $1,000 to $4,000
and six demerit points with possible imprisonment up to six months.
Many people may consider passing a stopped school bus to be
a minor traffic offense, but law enforcement officials have a much more serious
view.
Failing
to stop for a school bus is considered such a serious offense because not doing
so places young children at a higher risk of getting hurt or even killed
.
Legal Help for School
Bus Stop Passing
If you have been issued a citation for a fail to stop for a
school bus in Ontario, you will want to contact a lawyer who can defend you
against your ticket and possibly help you avoid penalties associated with the
offence.
Each failure to stop for a school bus in Ontario case
depends on the facts, and a lawyer will evaluate the impact that it has on your
ability to continue to drive and maintain the lowest possible insurance rates.
Consult
a lawyer for the best possible outcome if you have failed to stop for a school
bus in Ontario.