Even the best drivers in the province of Ontario get tickets once in a while.
Whether it’s a speeding ticket or an Ontario traffic ticket, the consequences can be worrisome.
If you’ve recently received a traffic ticket, you may not know what to do or how to proceed.
Often, drivers wonder how to fight a traffic ticket in Ontario if the traffic conviction seems to be unjustified.
Well, dealing with traffic tickets can be troublesome unless you have adequate evidence to back you up.
Moreover, getting an Ontario traffic ticket negatively affects your driving record as you watch demerit points accumulating.
Your insurer, too, won’t be too happy with your driving history once it has too many red marks. When you renew your policy, be prepared to shell out higher premiums.
Visit reputed insurance brokers at Surex at https://www.surex.com/Insurance/auto-car/toronto to keep your premiums affordable. Experienced insurance advisors can help you manage high premiums following traffic convictions.
Consequences of traffic tickets on insurance premiums
The law enforcement system in Ontario penalizes drivers indulging in traffic convictions by handing over traffic tickets. As a result, their driving records accumulate demerit points. Different types of traffic convictions can result in tickets. Some of these include:
- Driving under influence
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Driving with an invalid or suspended license
- Indulging in racing or speeding
- Committing a felony using a vehicle
- Hit-and-run cases
- Carrying out assault with a vehicle
These traffic convictions, along with many others, result in demerit points getting credited to your driving record.
As you get several Ontario traffic tickets, your driving record would be stained. As a result, insurance companies consider you to have a high-risk profile and spike your premiums. Remember, these demerit points can remain on your driving record for at least three years. Therefore, you won’t enjoy affordable premiums during this period.
Once your premium increases, you need to wait several years, after which they are removed from your history. Experts recommend taking a defensive driving course that can marginally reduce your premiums.
If you receive a traffic ticket in Ontario, some insurance companies might not be interested in covering your vehicle. In these cases, reach out to a reputed insurance broker to get the right policy recommended.
Can traffic tickets in Ontario lead to license suspension?
A few traffic tickets cannot get your license suspended. However, if you happen to be a habitual offender, getting too many traffic tickets can lead to the suspension of your driving license. This typically happens when someone accumulates 15 demerit points and proves to be an irresponsible driver.
Even when it gets revoked, the court may summon you and discuss your poor driving record. Getting your license validated after the suspension can be a painstaking ordeal. If you end up getting your license suspended, get adequate legal help from a professional.
The frequency of speeding or indulging in any other conviction largely determines when you would accumulate the demerit points. In case your car’s speed on city roads exceeds the designated speed limit by 10 Km/hr. or even more, you are likely to get traffic tickets. This limit is 20 Km/hr. or more on highways.
Besides, your driving record includes the number of convictions resulting from speeding and other offences. All these factors negatively affect your insurance premiums and can get your license suspended.
Checking traffic tickets online in Ontario
Now that you know the consequences of traffic tickets, it pays to remain vigilant about your conviction status. So, how would you know whether you have any traffic ticket against your name?
Often, drivers and car owners reach out to law practitioners, asking how to appeal a traffic ticket in Ontario. First, check out your traffic convictions online before you decide to challenge one. To check the status, provide the following information to the portal.
- Your ticket’s location code and offence number
- Furnish the offence case number if you have been summoned by the authorities. You can obtain the necessary information from the municipal court.
A small fee of $25 would be applicable to obtain your abstract of the driving record. Some drivers also visit the registry office. However, with the online system gaining popularity, most drivers prefer checking the status in the comfort of their homes.
Car owners should note that the status of tickets or fines is not visible on the online portal in some cases. These convictions generally involve minors or criminal offences. The portal also doesn’t show the status of cases under appeal, cases where there were publication bans, and public convictions.
How to fight unexpected traffic tickets in Ontario
If you want to learn how to fight traffic ticket offences in Ontario, here’s what you‘d need to do:
Summon
Offending drivers need to be present at the course if they receive a summon. It’s an offence to be absent from the court at the mentioned time and date. Receiving a summon implies you have committed a serious offence. Make sure to reach out to a lawyer for legal support before visiting the court. The fines can vary from $500 to $5,000 if you get a summon. Serious offences can also lead to license suspension and imprisonment.
Offence notices
Drivers receiving an offence notice can choose from the three options we have presented below:
- Simply make the payment after signing the traffic ticket and pleading guilty.
- With proper justification, present an explanation when you plead guilty. In this case, you need to talk to a justice, who might consider minimizing your fine. Sometimes, car owners get additional time to pay the fine.
- You can dispute the charge by trial. In this case, contact your lawyer, who should represent you in court.
Endnote
In most cases, traffic tickets lead to increased premiums, and drivers repent the spike in their rates. If you are in a similar situation, consider talking to a reputed insurance broker. Professional advice from specialists can bail you out of the financial crunch, helping you find affordable policies.
Established insurance brokers utilize their industry knowledge and resources to recommend cost-effective policies to their clients. With professional support from their end, car insurance won’t hurt your pockets as badly as you expect.
