UPDATE: Project Safe Start Results

The kids have been back in school for two weeks and the results of Project Safe Start are now in. Safe Start is the Halton Regional Police Service’s traffic enforcement program that was designed to protect the children walking and riding to school.

A total of 1641 tickets were issued between September 2nd and September 29th, near schools throughout the Region, at times when children are arriving or leaving. Of these, 1209 were for speeding, 185 were for stop sign violations, and 247 were for other violations.

There are a number of interesting (and scary) stories hidden within these statistics. For instance:

• Police observed a large transport truck leave a construction area and drive towards an intersection in front of an elementary school. The truck ran the stop sign, turned into the school’s driveway, passed the school and left the driveway by another exit. The truck drove back to the same intersection – from the opposite direction – and disobeyed a stop sign once again. When the truck was stopped, it was found to have an insecure load, which was in danger of falling off, endangering the students that were all around the area. The driver was charged with disobeying the stop signs and having an insecure load.

• One gentleman was stopped for speeding in a school zone. The license plates on his car were found to be homemade, constructed of plastic and Styrofoam. They were seized and he was charged with having improper plates.

• Officers stopped a 22yr old driver for speeding in front of a high school. The driver handed over his license to the officers and then decided to flee from them! It did not take long for the officers to learn that the offender was due to appear in criminal court that morning on unrelated charges. When he turned up in court, the officers were waiting for him. He was arrested and charged with numerous offences including speeding, using improper license plates, no insurance, failing to stop for police and failing to appear in court. Although initially denying being the driver, his memory improved when shown the driver’s license that he had left behind.

• Officers stopped another vehicle for speeding in front of a high school. The driver, who was from out of the Region, had a history of possession of child pornography, other sex offences involving children, and numerous speeding tickets. Detectives are trying to learn what brought him to Halton and if he was up to no good.

Officers will continue to strictly enforce the rules of the road in school zones throughout the year!

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