Reasons to Fight an Ontario Traffic Ticket

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Why should I fight my ticket?

Traffic tickets are a serious issue, which directly affect your driver’s license, your cost for insurance and in some cases your ability to sustain a living.

There is more to consider then just the fine.

Before you pay that traffic ticket, there are two things that you must take into consideration:

  1. The impact that traffic ticket will have on your driver’s license (demerit points, suspension, etc.),

  2. And the impact the traffic ticket will have on your cost for insurance.

What is the impact that the Demerit Points will have on my driver’s license?

Ontario Demerit Points and New Drivers

As a Class G1, G2, M1 or M2 driver, if you get two or more demerit points, you will be sent a warning letter. At six points, you may have to go to an interview to discuss your record. If you don′t attend, your licence may be suspended.

At nine points, your licence will be suspended for 60 days. After the suspension, the number of points on your record will be reduced to four. Any additional points could again bring you to the interview level. If you reach nine points again, your licence can be suspended for six months.

Ontario Demerit Points and Fully Licensed Drivers Ontario

As a fully licensed driver, if you get six demerit points, you will be informed about your driving record.

At nine points, you may have to go to an interview to discuss your record and give reasons why your licence should not be suspended. You may also have to complete a driver re-examination (vision, knowledge and road tests). If you fail, your licence will be cancelled.

If you fail to attend an interview, or fail to give good reasons for keeping your licence, your licence may be suspended.

At 15 or more points, your licence will be suspended for 30 days from the date you surrender it to the Ministry of Transportation for the first suspension. You can lose your licence for up to two years if you fail to surrender your licence.

After the suspension, the number of points on your record will be reduced to seven. Any extra points could again bring you to the interview level. If you reach 15 points again, your licence will be suspended for six months.

What impact will the traffic ticket have on my cost for insurance?

Insurance companies can increase your premiums for a minimum of 3 years and up to 6 years for any offence. This can obviously be very costly, boosting your rates from $750-$1,000/year to $5,000-$6,000/year for only one conviction for such offences as fail to remain at the scene of an accident or fail to stop for police or careless driving or fail to stop for a school bus or stunt driving or speeding 50 kilometers over the posted speed limit or fail to report an accident, etc.

Driving convictions will affect your rating in several ways depending on the number and type of convictions. Convictions fall into one of two categories: minor and major. To be eligible for preferred rating plans, you must have a clear record or no more than one or two minor driving convictions (requirements vary by insurance company). Additional convictions usually result in loss of the preferred status and the discounted premiums.

Convictions for major offences can result in an immediate increase in your insurance premiums.  If you have 6 or more demerit points on your record, you could be considered un-insurable.  Some insurance companies will not renew your policy if you have 3 or more convictions on your driving record within a 3 year period.