THUNDER BAY – OPP have laid serious charges against a driver for major speeding violations and stunt driving.
On September 10, 2019, at approximately 8:30 a.m., an officer from the Thunder Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was on patrol on Mapleward Road when the officer observed the driver of a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed.
The driver was observed to be driving in excess of 110 km/hr in a posted 60 km/hr zone. The officer stopped the vehicle and while speaking with the driver, the officer was approached by a bus driver and advised that the driver also passed the school bus as it was stopped picking up students.
The driver was charged with two offences under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA):
-Drive Motor Vehicle Perform Stunt by 50 or more km/hr contrary to section 172(1),
-Fail to Stop for School Bus – Overtaking contrary to section 175(12).
Drivers are reminded that driving speeds of 50km/hr or more over the posted speed limit face severe penalties including:
- Mandatory 7-day licence suspension
- Mandatory 7-day vehicle impoundment
- Minimum fine $2000 up to $10,000
- 6 license demerit points.
It is illegal to fail to stop for a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal lights flashing. For a first time offence, you can be fined from $400 to $2,000 and have six demerit points added to your licence. In Ontario, school-bus drivers and other witnesses can report vehicles that have illegally passed a school bus. If you are the vehicle’s registered owner, these same fines may be applied to you.
Thunder Bay OPP would like to remind the public that road safety is everyone’s responsibility. Please help keep our roads safe!
