Vehicle failed to move over, several seatbelt charges follow: OPP

2023:OPP stress seatbelt, life-jacket & helmet use Ontario Provincial Police say deaths are going up when people are not using seatbelts, helmets or life-jackets.

Ontario Provincial Police in North Bay are reminding motorists that seatbelts save lives after a recent traffic stop found several passengers without seatbelts.

At about 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 5, OPP stopped a vehicle in the city with eight occupants that police said failed to move over for an emergency vehicle.

“Through investigation, four adults and two children were not wearing seatbelts,” said police in a social media post on Friday.

As a result of the traffic stop and investigation a 40-year-old from Brampton, Ont., was charged with two counts of driving while a passenger under 16 failed to wear a seatbelt in addition to the charge for failing to move into another lane for an emergency vehicle.

Four adult passengers were also individually charged for failing to wear their seatbelt.

Drivers are responsible for ensuring that every person in the vehicle they are operating has their own working seatbelt, that passengers under the age of 16 are wearing their seatbelts properly and when required by law that they are secured in appropriate child car seats.

“The OPP patrols more than 130,000 kilometres of roadway throughout Ontario and reminds motorists that drivers and passengers must be buckled up,” said police.

“More often than not, seatbelts save lives. Attending the scene of a fatal collision is one of the most difficult calls for service that officers respond to.”

Earlier this month, OPP conducted a safety campaign focused on moving over for emergency vehicles and “the big four,” which include distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding/aggressive driving and seatbelts. The campaign over the long weekend saw more than 8,000 traffic-related charges laid by the OPP across the province – including 554 charges for individuals not wearing seatbelts.

For more information on fines and pentalties for not wearing a seatbelt in Ontario and other safety tips, visit ontario.ca.