What Is Flight from a Peace Officer?
Flight from a Peace Officer is charged under section 320.17 of the Criminal Code of Canada. It applies when the operator of a motor vehicle, knowing that a peace officer is requiring them to stop, fails to do so and instead flees or attempts to evade the officer.
Common scenarios include
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Failing to pull over during a traffic stop and driving away.
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Continuing to drive after police have activated lights/sirens.
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Evasive driving following a lawful demand to stop (e.g., at a RIDE checkstop).
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Flight from a Peace Officer is a hybrid offence. When the Crown proceeds by summary conviction, this is a charge Vertex Legal Solutions PC can represent you on.
Potential Consequences
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Criminal record.
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Mandatory driving prohibition.
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Fines.
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Jail time — up to 2 years less a day on summary conviction (more severe penalties apply where the flight caused bodily harm or death).
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Probation.
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Vehicle impoundment, in many cases.
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Significant insurance impact.
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No demerit points — this is a Criminal Code offence, not a Highway Traffic Act one, so it does not carry demerit points. The prohibition, record, and possible impoundment are the real consequences.
Because this offence often overlaps with suspicion of impaired driving, stolen vehicles, or outstanding warrants, the surrounding circumstances can heavily influence how the Crown approaches the case.
How Vertex Legal Solutions PC Can Help
Flight charges can happen in the heat of the moment - a panicked reaction rather than a calculated attempt to evade police and that context matters for how the case should be resolved.
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Reviewing whether you had genuine knowledge that a peace officer required you to stop, a required element of the offence.
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Assessing police conduct during the pursuit or attempted stop for procedural or Charter issues.
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Identifying connections to related charges and how they may be resolved together.
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Negotiating with the Crown toward reduced charges or penalties where appropriate.
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Representing you in court for this charge when proceeding summarily.
If you’ve been charged with Flight from a Peace Officer, contact Vertex Legal Solutions PC to discuss how we can help
Vertex Legal Solutions is licensed by the Law Society of Ontario. General information, not legal advice.