Professional Traffic Ticket Representation:

Question: What are the possible penalties and insurance impacts in Ontario if I’m convicted of a major traffic charge?

Answer: Major traffic convictions in Ontario can mean substantial fines and surcharges, higher insurance premiums for about three years, and, depending on your prior record and demerit points, a possible licence suspension, especially if you were convicted within the past three years, are near the demerit threshold, or have a job requirement to maintain a clean driving record.  To protect your driving privileges and challenge the case early, Olson Craig Legal can review the disclosure, identify strong defence routes, and help prepare persuasive courtroom arguments through lawyer & paralegals.  Call (226) 886-2001 for a FREE 1/4 hour consultation to discuss your facts and next steps.

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Providing Strategic Defence Advocacy

Major charges, whether isolated or in combination with other offences, can drive insurance premiums higher and may lead to a lengthy licence suspension if compounded by previous convictions or too many demerit points. Significant fines are also likely. As such, it is essential to seek a thorough professional review of the legal facts, the possible outcomes, and the available defence strategies, for any major charge.

Protecting Against Significant Consequences

A major traffic offence conviction generally brings about heavy fines and surcharges as well as the likelihood of significantly higher insurance premiums lasting for at least three years. For drivers with prior offences, there is also a risk of licence suspension and other penalties.

Factors Tending to Aggravate Penalties

The affects of conviction for a major driving offence can be significantly further aggravated:

• When a driver was previously convicted within the past three years on another charge;
• When a driver is on the cusp of having accumulated too many demerit points and this latest major charge now puts the driver at risk of a licence suspension, among other penalties; and
• When a driver is required to maintain a good driving record as a condition of employment.

Conclusion

Traffic tickets of the major charges type pose serious consequences involving substantial fines plus victim surcharges as well as demerit points that may be the straw that breaks the camel's back resulting in a license suspension.  Additionally, a major charge may result in substantially increased insurance rates including the potential for loss of access to standard insurance market and substitute placement into the highly priced Facility Association.

Accordingly, when charged with a major traffic ticket offence, hiring a professional who knows how to question witnesses, especially which questions to ask and which questions to avoid, and who knows the law, knows the paperwork processes and courtroom procedures, and knows how to make judicially persuasive arguments on the applicable legal principles, is highly important.