The Sudbury detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police was testing drivers over the weekend to see how many motorists pull to the left when approaching an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the road.
Police issued six warnings and charged one person for the offence but say they could have easily laid more than 50 charges. The traffic blitz took place on the four-lane section of Hwy. 17 near the Hwy. 144 interchange.
The pull over, or pull to the left legislation came into effect April 3, 2003 and is designed to protect emergency personnel. The Highway Traffic Act requires that motorists approaching a stopped emergency vehicle on the same side of the road slow down and proceed with caution. If the road has two or more lanes, drivers must merge into a lane to the left if it can be done safely.
Violators are subject to a total fine of $490 for a first offence and from $1,000 to $4,000 for subsequent offences. Perpetrators could also face up to six months in prison or have their licence suspended for up to two years. All convictions will result in the addition of three demerit points to a driver's record.
