Police officer nearly struck by bus during traffic stop on Hwy. 416

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Ottawa detachment conducted a traffic stop on Highway 416 this past Tuesday.

Soon before 11:30 p.m. on April 1, an officer was nearly struck by a coach bus as he approached another vehicle during a traffic stop, wrote OPP on X.

Officers proceeded to stop the bus, and the driver was issued a $490 ticket after failing to move over for an emergency vehicle.

“Moving over for vehicles on the side of the highway should be a common courtesy afforded to all drivers and is the law when it comes to emergency vehicles and tow trucks. Slow down. Move over,” OPP said.

This happened while OPP East Region continues operation “Plate Week.” Where officers are working to identify motorists whose plates are missing, obstructed, damaged, or defaced.

The traffic initiative began on March 3, after patrol officers noted an increase in the number of illegal plate covers on vehicles.

According to provincial police, it’s critical that motorists have their vehicles properly plated, helping during various types of investigations. Additionally, Automatic Licence Plate Recognitio (ALPR) camera detection is notably reduced by damaged or faded license plates.

In such cases, police are often unable to conduct information checks on vehicles prior to a traffic stop.

Damaged or faded licence plates can also prevent OPP from following up with drivers that failed to stop for police or who fled the scene of an accident.

Recently, officers pulled over a vehicle that had only one plate, and the officer soon discovered that the motorist was a suspended driver.

The enforcement continues through April 6 and includes members from Ottawa OPP, Renfrew OPP and Upper Ottawa Valley OPP.