SUDBURY -- A 55-year-old driver of a commercial cube van has been charged with driving through the red lights of a school bus on John Street in Mattawa on Dec. 4.

The incident took place around 3:20 p.m.

"Police investigation revealed that the eastbound school bus was stopped with its red lights activated and the stop arm was extended when the vehicle drove past the school bus," North Bay Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release Wednesday. "The school bus driver obtained a very good description of the westbound vehicle and driver."

Police located the vehicle on Highway 17 in East Ferris and the 55-year-old driver from Ottawa was issued a Provincial Offence notice and charged with failing to stop for a school bus. Upon conviction, the ticket includes a total fine of $490 and six demerit points.

"With only a few school days left in 2020, the North Bay detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police want to remind motorists about the importance of stopping for the red lights of a school bus," police said.

"It's important that motorists watch out for school buses and obey posted speed limits, so that all children can get safely to and from school."

As a reminder to drivers, when there is no median, motorists travelling in both directions, must stop for a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal lights flashing.

Drivers are not to proceed until the lights on the school bus have stopped flashing. The stop arm is not required to be extended.

Vehicle owners can also be charged if their vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus, regardless of who is driving the vehicle at the time.