Getting a traffic ticket is one of the most frustrating experiences for drivers in Ontario. Not only will you be fined, but your car insurance rate will likely increase, and that ticket will also appear on your driving record. Read our article to learn how you can check for traffic tickets and how to deal with your fine, from paying it to contesting the decision and making sure your car insurance rates don’t skyrocket.
How to Check if You Have Traffic Tickets Online in Ontario?
You can check the status of your traffic tickets in Ontario online through the official traffic ticket checker tool provided by the Ontario government. However, you can only check tickets for offences issued under the Provincial Offences Act, which doesn’t include criminal matters and parking tickets.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to using the traffic ticket checker:
- Prepare the location code and offence number printed on your ticket. If you’ve been issued a summons, prepare the case number.
- Open the Provincial Offences Act online services page and read through the provided terms of use.
- Enter the ICON location, offence number, and last name/business name into the provided fields. You can search up to 6 cases if needed.
- From there, you can follow the on-screen instructions to view your traffic ticket’s status and learn how to pay the fine.
Where Do You Pay Traffic Tickets in Ontario?
You can pay your traffic tickets in Ontario through the ServiceOntario page for paying fines. This process takes roughly 6 to 8 minutes, and you can pay with your credit card. You can also pay the fine by mail with a cheque or money order, or by phone through an automated system or a service representative.
In addition to the three methods presented above, you can pay tickets in person at designated offices or courthouses. This is the only way to pay the fine in cash. If you changed your address within the last 90 days, in-person payment is the only method available to you.
How Do You Pay a Traffic Ticket Online in Ontario?
As mentioned, you can pay a traffic ticket in Ontario online through the ServiceOntario page. Here’s a step-by-step guide to doing so:
- Prepare your credit card you’re paying with.
- Enter the ServiceOntario payment page.
- Input your driver’s licence number and class.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to input your ticket details.
- Select the relevant payment method, in this case, your credit card.
- Confirm the transaction and download the receipt for safekeeping.
How to Fight a Traffic Ticket in Ontario
When you get a traffic ticket, you don’t necessarily have to take the decision at face value and pay the ticket as requested. If you think you’re not at fault, or that your mistake wasn’t as big as the ticket would suggest, you can try fighting the ticket.
Generally, when you receive a traffic ticket, you have three courses of action:
- Admit your guilt and pay the fine. The demerit points will be added to your driving record.
- Meet with the prosecutor to negotiate a fine or demerit reduction, which usually works best if you admit that you made a mistake but still deserve some leniency.
- Plead not guilty and contest your charge in court, giving you a fighting chance to get the penalties reduced or have your ticket dismissed altogether. This is generally best if you’re confident that you didn’t commit any offence.
If you plead not guilty and want to contest your charge in court to fight the ticket, here’s how to do it:
- Notify the court that you want to contest the traffic ticket by submitting a form within the allotted timeframe. Usually, you have 15 days from receiving your ticket to notify the court of your intent to contest the ticket.
- Prepare the evidence for your case by developing a clear argument based on the evidence you have, from documents to witness statements and physical evidence.
- Get acquainted with the courtroom process, especially how to present your evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and address the judge.
- Stand trial and present your case. Here is where you’ll present your arguments, and the officer will also present the evidence they have that you committed the offence that resulted in a ticket.
- Get the verdict handed down. If you’re found not guilty, then your ticket will be entirely dismissed. If you’re found guilty, you still need to pay the fine and other relevant penalties. In some cases, the prosecutor may offer a penalty reduction that lessens the penalties levied against you.
If you decide to fight your traffic ticket, remember that it’s a potentially time-consuming process, and you may not be well-equipped to handle it. However, you can enlist help from legal specialists to fight your ticket if you’re not confident about your chances but still want to contest the charge.
Possible Outcomes After Fighting Your Traffic Ticket
There are three possible outcomes after contesting your traffic ticket:
Why Traffic Tickets Matter for Your Insurance
Traffic tickets matter for your car insurance because they can raise your premiums. Drivers with traffic tickets in Ontario are generally looked upon as less safe, meaning you’re more likely to get into an accident or commit offences that endanger yourself and others.
To put it into perspective, take a look at how traffic tickets affect your car insurance premiums in Ontario:
| Number of tickets | Average Ontario Car Insurance Premium Increase |
|---|---|
| 1 ticket | 16.5% |
| 2 tickets | 55.8% |
| 3 tickets | 80.2% |
That said, traffic tickets and demerit points don’t stay on your record forever. Demerit points stay on your record for two years after application, so if you keep your record clean, you’ll eventually have a clean driving record again. For major incidents like car accidents, it can take 5 years for your driving record to clear.
Key Advice from MyChoice
- Consider fighting your traffic ticket charge if you’re confident that you didn’t commit any offence and want to keep demerits off your driving record.
- If you’re not confident about being innocent, consider meeting with the prosecutor to negotiate penalty reductions.
- Think about hiring legal specialists to help fight your traffic ticket charge if you’re not confident about your odds of winning.