Medicine Hat police urge caution as students return Monday and Tuesday
With school zones in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., police say fines for violations near schools can reach $810.
Why it matters
Drivers and parents in Medicine Hat face steep fines and safety risks as increased pedestrian and school bus traffic returns with the new school year.
The Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education starts its school year Monday, while the Medicine Hat Public School Division and Prairie Rose Public School begin Tuesday. Medicine Hat Police Service staff sergeant Ryan Thorburn is asking drivers to slow down and stay alert as pedestrian traffic increases around schools, noting children can be unpredictable, particularly in the first weeks back.
Thorburn flagged areas near Notre Dame Academy on Spruce Way and St. Francis Xavier School on Eighth Street Northeast as known problem spots during drop-off and pickup times. Police are urging drivers to avoid distractions, watch for crossing guards, obey posted limits and exercise patience, while asking parents to review crosswalk safety with their children.
Motorists are reminded to use extra caution around school buses, even when a stop arm is not extended, and to avoid blocking driveways or adding to congestion in residential areas during pickup and drop-off.
Police also outlined penalties for violations: failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, disobeying a crossing guard, or passing a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk each carry an $810 fine and up to four demerit points. School zone speeding fines are doubled, and failing to stop for a school bus can bring a $567 fine and six demerit points, with vehicle owners liable for a $567 fine without demerit points if a violation is reported or caught on camera.
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