๐Ÿšธ Markham, Ontario School Zone Safety

The Calvert Crossing Guard

Vehicles, remain stopped until the crossing guard is 100% off the road!

Helping kids, parents, and drivers learn safer crosswalk habits near Townson and Village Gate.

The Calvert Crossing Guard smiling and holding a stop sign

Ontario + Markham Safety Reminders

These reminders are for Ontario, Canada, including Markham school zones. This page is educational only, not legal advice. Fines and penalties can change, and the total payable on a ticket can be higher than the set fine because court costs and victim fine surcharge may be added.

1Crossing Guard Stop Sign

Ontario Highway Traffic Act, s. 176: when a school crossing guard displays the school crossing stop sign, drivers must stop before reaching the crossing.

Drivers must remain stopped until everyone, including the crossing guard, has cleared the roadway and it is safe to proceed.

Current penalty: first offence fine range $300 to $1,000; later offence $500 to $1,000. Current set fine: $300, or $600 in a Community Safety Zone. Demerit points: 4.

2Crosswalks & Pedestrian Crossovers

Ontario Highway Traffic Act, s. 140: at a pedestrian crossover, drivers must stop before entering the crossover and must not proceed until the pedestrian is no longer on the roadway.

Drivers also must not overtake a vehicle already stopped at the crossover, and must not pass the front of another vehicle within 30 metres of a pedestrian crossover.

Current penalty: fine range $300 to $1,000 for a first offence; $500 to $1,000 for a later offence. Current set fines for key crossover offences are $300, or $600 in a Community Safety Zone. Demerit points: 4.

3Road Stop Signs

Ontario Highway Traffic Act, s. 136: drivers approaching a stop sign must stop at the marked stop line. If there is no stop line, stop immediately before entering the nearest crosswalk. If there is no crosswalk, stop before entering the intersection.

After stopping, drivers must yield to traffic close enough to be an immediate hazard before proceeding.

Current set fine: $85 for disobeying a stop sign or stopping in the wrong place. In a Community Safety Zone, the set fine is $120 to $150 depending on the charge. Demerit points: usually 3 for failing to obey a stop sign.

4School Zones & Community Safety Zones

Markham school areas are places where drivers should slow down, expect children to behave unpredictably, and be prepared to stop for pedestrians, crossing guards, school buses, and traffic signs.

Community Safety Zones are used where public safety is especially important, including school areas. Many moving-violation set fines are higher in these zones.

Current speeding set fines: 1-19 km/h over is $2.50 per km; 20-29 km/h over is $3.75 per km; 30-49 km/h over is $6.00 per km. In a Community Safety Zone, those set fines double to $5.00, $7.50, and $12.00 per km. 50 km/h or more over has no out-of-court settlement.

5Bikes, E-Bikes & E-Scooters

People on bicycles must still obey stop signs, traffic signals, and crossing rules. Bicycles should be walked across pedestrian crossovers where riding is prohibited.

Ontario e-scooter pilot rules require riders to be at least 16, stand while riding, wear a bicycle helmet if under 18, carry no passengers or cargo, and use an e-scooter that cannot exceed 24 km/h on a level surface.

In Markham, follow the Cityโ€™s permitted-use areas, signs, and any local pilot rules. Do not assume e-scooters are allowed on sidewalks, trails, parks, or crosswalks.

Current set fines include $85 for a cyclist riding in a pedestrian crossover and $85 for a cyclist failing to stop. Ontario e-scooter pilot violations can carry fines from $250 to $2,500, and local by-law penalties may also apply.

6Parking, Stopping & Visibility

Do not block crosswalks, stop lines, sidewalks, school entrances, driveways, or sightlines near a crossing. Children are small, fast, and hard to see around parked or stopped vehicles.

In Markham school areas, obey all no stopping, no parking, fire route, bus loading, school area, and supervised crossing signs.

Markham school safety materials warn that fire-route fines can range from $100 to $200 and that school bus offences can carry major fines and 6 demerit points. Posted signs and local by-laws control the exact amount.

Sources used for this safety section: Ontario Highway Traffic Act sections 136, 140, 144.1 and 176; Ontario Court of Justice Set Fine Schedule 43, last updated January 22, 2026; Ontario demerit point information; Ontario e-scooter pilot rules; and City of Markham school travel/safety materials.

About Jessica

Jessica as The Calvert Crossing Guard

Iโ€™m a stay-at-home mom first to a wonderful boy, and I have a wonderful supportive husband. Iโ€™ve been a crossing guard since December 2022.

I help keep families safe near Townson and Village Gate in Markham, Ontario, and I create safety education for kids, parents, and drivers.

Mission: educate children and parents about school zone safety to help make crosswalks safer for everyone.

Contact

๐ŸŒ www.TheCalvertCrossingGuard.ca
โœ‰๏ธ TheCalvertCrossingGuard@gmail.com