Police issue another reminder after school bus blow-bys
Chatham-Kent police are reminding drivers to stop for school buses that have their lights flashing -- or be prepared to pay the price.
Police said they "received a number of complaints" Wednesday afternoon about drivers not stopping for school buses that had their stop arm out with lights flashing while they were picking up or dropping off students.
Officers said the Ministry of Transportation advises that if you're driving behind a bus, you should stop at least 20 metres away and if the school bus is facing you, you should stop at a safe distance that will allow the children to get on and off the bus and cross the road.
The penalties for driving past a stopped school bus with its upper red lights flashing and/or the stop arm flashing range from fines of $400 to $2,000 and six demerit points. Repeat offenders can be fined between $1,000 and $4,000 and six demerit points -- possibly even facing up to six months in jail.
Police said the laws about stopping for school buses also apply to multi-lane roadways.
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Puppy selling scam warning
Chatham-Kent police are putting out a warning to the public as they investigate a fraud in the area where someone is reportedly using a fake identity and claiming to sell puppies.
Police are urging you to always be cautious when you're looking at making any sort of purchase online, adding that "callers or social media profiles are not who they claim to be."
Officers are urging you to use even more caution when you're sending money to anyone for the exchange of items or goods.
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Woman accused of breaching curfew two nights in a row
A 28-year-old Chatham woman who was booked for being out past her curfew Tuesday night was taken back into police custody after she went out again on Wednesday.
Chatham-Kent police said they found the woman in the passenger seat of a vehicle that an officer pulled over for a traffic stop on St. Clair Street at around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday.
Police said they arrested her for the second night in a row after they found out she wasn't supposed to be out between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. daily.
Officers say once again, she couldn't provide a lawful excuse for violating her curfew, so she was charged with another count of failing to comply with her release conditions.
This time, the accused was taken back to police headquarters and was set to be held in custody pending a bail hearing.
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Customized Honda Civic reported stolen in Chatham
Chatham-Kent police are asking for your help to track down a customized silver 2002 Honda Civic that was reported stolen from an address on Tissiman Avenue in Chatham.
Police said it was stolen at around 5:50 a.m. Thursday.
The vehicle had a black hood and a spoiler attached to it and was last seen with Ontario license plate CDAA 039. It also had some specific features like "HOONIGAN" stickers on both side panels near the rear wheels, a HOONIGAN decal on the rear window with "Kill all Tires", tinted windows, and silver NK Shogun rims.
If you have any information that could help recover this vehicle or identify anyone involved in the theft, you're asked to contact Constable Jason Williams at JASONW@chatham-kent.ca or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).