Image: M. Vanden Bosch / PML / Now that almost all SD33 buses have been outfitted with exterior surveillance cameras, Chilliwack RCMP say they will actively enforce all motorists who ignore the red-light stop arms that activate on buses.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Red-light runners

Chilliwack RCMP plans to ticket all motorists who bypass red-light stop signs on buses, provided there’s enough video evidence

Oct 14, 2022 | 12:11 PM

CHILLIWACK — Gone are the days when motorists could wantonly ignore the red-light stop signs and illuminated arms that activate when school buses unload passengers, thereby endangering students in the process.

Earlier this week, the Chilliwack School District revealed that it plans to gradually outfit all its buses with exterior cameras that can record motorists who fail to stop when red-light stop signs are activated by bus drivers. All new busses come with exterior cameras; 85 per cent of the district’s existing bus fleet has interior and exterior cameras.

SD33 personnel also indicated they submitted 138 red-light runner reports during the 2021-22 school year. RCMP have the power to review these reports and issue ticket violations to the registered owner of a vehicle at a cost of $368 with three points on their respective record. Routes with a high frequency of violations will be monitored by RCMP personnel.

Chilliwack RCMP Sgt. Krista Vrolyk said this week via email that motorists will be held accountable to the fullest extent possible.

“Yes, we do issue violation tickets for these offences,” Sgt. Vrolyk said. “Many people are shocked to learn that the vast majority of school busses in our community are equipped with video recording equipment which captures the entire offence on video. Our officers receive this evidence which they use to issue violation tickets to the registered owner of the vehicle involved.”

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Image: Supplied by Rotary Club of Quesnel / Sgt. Krista Vrolyk, spokesperson for the Chilliwack RCMP, says motorists who ignore the stop signs that activate on buses when they stop, will be ticketed so long as there’s sufficient video evidence of their vehicular offence.

Vrolyk added that many violators are shocked when police arrive on their doorstep to issue them a ticket.

“We work in close partnership with the School District to ensure that violators are held accountable so that our students are safe,” Vrolyk said. “The fact that some individuals are in such a rush that they jeopardize the safety of children in our community is shocking and it’s important that we hold people accountable. But…we do proceed with tickets against the majority providing we have sufficient evidence to support the charge.”

The school district continues to enforce motorists who ignore the mandatory red-light flashing arms that activate when buses come to a designated stop. For example, if a stop swing arm is activated and a motorist brazenly ignores it, bus drivers can press a button to initiate a time stamp on a video. After a bus run, the driver can complete the red-light runner report and submit it to the district transportation manager, who has the authority to complete the report and submit it to the Chilliwack RCMP on a monthly basis.

To further implement bus safety measures, the district transportation manager now participates in regular advisory panel meetings on school bus safety with Transport Canada every three weeks. The manager will also partake in the Transportation Advisory Committee alongside the City of Chilliwack, Safer City Chilliwack, ICBC, RCMP and Speed Watch.