Niagara Police warn: Stop at school crossings or face $1,000 fine

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Published September 1, 2022 at 12:36 pm

With schools returning Tuesday (September 6), Niagara Police are warning motorists to be patient and come to a complete stop at school crosswalks.

Impatient drivers who think they can jump ahead of the pedestrians could be in for a costly lesson.

Niagara Deputy Chief of Police Brett Flynn said, “As children return to school for another year of learning, the Niagara Regional Police would like to remind all cyclists and motorists to obey the rules of the road and help keep our youth and crossing guards safe.”

Niagara Police say under the Highway Traffic Act, “A motorist can be fined up to $1000, plus four demerit points for failing to yield at a pedestrian crosswalk, school crossing, and/or a crossover.”

Any driver that puts the students and guards at physical risk can expect an even bigger punishment, including a fine and loss of licence.

“An additional charge of Careless Driving can be given for aggressive or careless drivers who put themselves and other road users, such as pedestrians, at risk.  Upon conviction for Careless Driving, a driver may face fines ranging up to $2,000, six demerit points, a maximum of six months in jail and a drivers licence suspension of up to two years.”

All drivers have to stop and yield at pedestrian crossovers until the crosswalk is empty of both pedestrians and the School Crossing Guard, as well as any signed school crossing locations where there is a Guard displaying a school crossing stop sign.

 

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