Getting a traffic ticket for failing to stop for a school bus is a very serious charge. It’s not just that many of our laws are designed to protect all road users. In this case, the laws are designed to protect children. And they may run or walk into the roadway unexpectedly.
What the Law States About Stopping for a School Bus
Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act states in Section 175 (11 & 12):
(11) Every driver or streetcar operator, when meeting on a highway, other than a highway with a median strip, a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal lights flashing, shall stop before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal lights have stopped flashing. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 175 (11).
(12) Every driver or street car operator on a highway, when approaching from the rear a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal lights flashing, shall stop at least twenty metres before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal lights have stopped flashing. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 175 (12).
Penalties If You Are Convicted of Failing to Stop for a School Bus
The Ontario Highways Traffic Act lists the following potential penalties if courts find you guilty of a ‘failing to stop for a school bus charge.
- $2,000 to $4,000 Fines – For the first conviction and subsequent convictions
- 6 demerit points
- 30-day driver’s licence suspension
- 3 years – The length of time a conviction will remain on your driving record
- Higher car insurance rates – As a ‘moving’ violation, a conviction for failing to stop for a school bus can have a significant impact on your car insurance rates. And those higher rates will last for as long as the conviction remains on your driving record. Indeed, the higher rates could last longer if your insurance company does not review your driving record before renewing your insurance coverage
What to Do If you Get a Fail to Stop for a School Bus Traffic Ticket
Clearly, a conviction can be very costly. Also, again because the law is designed to protect children, courts may be less lenient.
If you get a traffic ticket for failing to stop for a school bus, the first step is to hire the right legal team; one with experience in winning against “failing to stop for a school bus” charges. X-Copper’s team of qualified lawyers, former police officers and legal professionals understand how officers enforce the law, and how the courts hear and process your case. And we know how to get the best results possible.
There are also traffic laws about what to do when emergency vehicles approach your vehicle with their lights flashing. Learn more in our article “Pull Over for Emergency Vehicles or Suffer These Penalties“.