Northeast Region Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will be setting their sights on drivers who do not slow down or safely move over for emergency vehicles this upcoming long weekend.
Across Ontario, the OPP has laid more than 450 charges this year against drivers who failed to slow down or move over for emergency vehicles and tow trucks.
Provincial Constable Robert Lewis, the OPP’s Media Relations/Community Safety Officer, says “Ontario’s Move Over law requires drivers approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with its emergency lights activated or a tow truck with its amber lights flashing, to slow down, move over, if safe to do so, and proceed with caution. If the highway has more than one lane, the law requires the driver to move over and leave space between their vehicle and the parked emergency vehicle or tow truck if it can be done safely”
The law carries a $490 to $2,000 fine plus three demerit points upon conviction.
Subsequent offences (within five years) carry a $1,000 to $4,000 fine, possible jail time of up to six months and possible suspension of your driver’s licence for up to two years.
“Over the long weekend, the OPP is counting on drivers to avoid other poor behaviours that place all road users at risk. You can assure that officers will be watching for speeders, safety restraint use, distracted driving, impaired drivers, and other moving violations in an effort to keep our roadways safe during this high traffic volume period,” said Lewis.
