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Volume 1, Issue 4
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
FREE
Increased fines hoped to make streets safer By Sheila McBrayne
More than 44,000 poonchkies sold! Page 20
Atoms advance to OMHA semi-finals. Page 10
Flyers begin Playoffs tonight. Page 11
If safety isn’t a good enough reason to obey the law, heftier fines may be the ticket to make motorists pay more attention to the rules of the road. As of January 1, 2010 some fines have doubled and in a couple of cases, quadrupled. The fine for failing to pull over for an emergency vehicle saw the largest hike going from $110 to $490, including Victim Service Charge (VSC) charged by the province. “You’d be amazed at how many people still don’t pull over for emergency vehicles… I see them, but I can’t always leave what I’m doing to pursue them,” said Leamington Police Service Traffic Unit Senior Constable Peter Pavlovic. Another drastic increase in fines, which are set by the Ministry of Transportation through the Highway Traffic Act, is the red light violation in a community safety zone (school zone). Prior to January 1 the fine was $140, but now the fine, including VSC is $490. Running a red light anywhere will cost the violator $325, up from the previous $110. For those drivers who sometimes “forget” to buckle up the fine for failing to wear a seatbelt or failing to ensure passengers under 16 are buckled up has more than doubled from $110 to $240, including VSC. The fine for failing to stop for a school bus (with signals flashing) remains a hefty $485 and carries 6 demerit points. That is the first-time minimum charge, which can range up to $2,000. A new fine introduced in 2009 is the driving with a handheld communication device (cell phone, GPS etc.), which carries a fine of $150, including VSC. “I’ve issued two tickets for the new law and I know another officer has issued one… we’re starting to get tough on this one… no more breaks. It’s too dangerous,” said Sr. Const. Pavlovic. Speeding fines remain the same, as they saw increases last year. Speeding tickets are actually calculated by your actual number of kilometres over the set limit you were driving. From 1-19 km over is based at $2.50 per km; from 2034 km over is based at $3.75 per km; from 35-49 km is based
Senior Constable Peter Pavlovic of the Leamington Police Service Traffic Unit. (Sun Photo)
at $6 per km; and at 50 km over any posted speed limit the vehicle is impounded for seven days, driver’s licence suspended for seven days and, if found guilty in court, a minimum $2,000 fine. If money’s no object, well, in Ontario we have a demerit point system which
could take away the privilege of driving. Each offence will merit the offender between 2 and 7 points. It is a common misconception that drivers “lose” points due to convictions for certain traffic offences. In fact, a driver begins with zero demerit points and accumu-
lates demerit points for convictions. Demerit points stay on your record for two years from the offence date. If you accumulate too many points, you can lose your licence. Slow down, buckle up and pay attention; thats’s the advice from a 33-year veteran of the police service.
Leamington doctor named Dean of Medicine & Dentistry
The University of Western Ontario has announced the appointment of Dr. Michael J. Strong as Dean of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. Dr. Strong will begin his term as Dean on July 1, 2010 and will serve until June 30, 2015. He will replace Dr. Carol Herbert, who announced her intention to step down more than a year ago after completing two terms and eleven years as Dean. Born in Windsor and hailing from Leamington, Dr. Strong undertook his undergraduate training in biochemistry and medicine at Queens University, neurology training at The University of Western Ontario, and postgraduate training at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. He is currently Chief of Neurology and Co-Chair of the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences at the London Health Sciences Centre and The University of Western Ontario, Director of the London Motor Neuron Diseases Clinic at the London Health Sciences Centre, the Arthur J. Hudson Chair in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research (ALS), and a scientist at the Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. Dr. Strong has an enviable record in clinical education and practice, research and service. (Continued on Page 2)
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