Hamilton Police to launch school zone, bus route safety enforcement campaign next week

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Published September 10, 2020 at 12:51 pm

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Starting next week, Hamilton Police will be focusing their attention on school zones as students head back to school.

Starting next week, Hamilton Police will be focusing their attention on school zones as students head back to school.

In a press release issued Wednesday (Sept. 9), police say they will be keeping an eye on School Bus safety and speeding in areas around schools starting September 15 until September 25.

“As schools begin to open in a staggered fashion, school busses will once again be out on the roads in vast numbers,” Hamilton Police say in the release.

“Let’s do our part to make this a safe year for our students and staff. Please obey the speed limits and stop for school buses.”

Therefore, police say, resources will be directed towards school zones and bus routes for the purpose of reducing or eliminating collisions and encouraging adherence to the basic rules of the road.

Things to keep in mind to avoid a run-in with the law and to allow students to get to school safely are:

  • Drivers must come to a complete stop once the red-flashing lights and stop arm are activated on a school bus.
  • They must remain stopped until the red-flashing lights stop and the stop arm is no longer extended.
  • Additionally, owners of vehicles are liable if the driver of their vehicle does not obey these rules. The fine for not stopping for a school bus, either approaching or overtaking, is $490.00 and six demerit points.
  • School zones have lower speed limits and a ticket for speeding can result in a $95 ticket and three demerit points.
  • Neighbourhood streets are reduced to 40 km/hr and school zones are reduced to 30 km/hr.

The City of Hamilton will also be stepping up parking enforcement around schools.

Hamilton Municipal Parking System (HMPS) will continue parking enforcement at one school per day with a focus on schools with a high number of parking complaints and safety issues between 2019 and 2020, the city said in a press release.

Tentative target locations include: Queen Mary, Gatestone, Glen Echo, W. H. Ballard, George Armstrong, Adelaide Hoodless, Norwood Park and St. Matthews.

Some Hamilton students returned to school this week in the Catholic school board and next week the public board begins its staggered return.

Hamilton schools should be back in class in their entirety by the end of next week.

“Let’s do our part to make this a safe year for our students and staff,” Hamilton Police say in the release.

“Please obey the speed limits and stop for school buses.”

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