Traffic Tickets
A traffic ticket in Ontario is not a bill. It is a charge, and how you respond decides whether it becomes a conviction on your driving record.
Received a traffic ticket or summons to appear in court?
Understand what happens next
A traffic ticket or summons can involve strict response deadlines and consequences that may extend beyond the fine. Before paying the ticket or choosing a court option, take time to understand the charge and how it may affect your driving record.
What happens after you get a traffic ticket in Ontario
The first 15 days decide everything that follows
You may pay the fine, discuss the charge with a prosecutor, or request a trial.
Understanding each option can help you make an informed decision and avoid further consequences.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Our firm faq's section provide quick answers to common questions about our legal service and consultations
Demerit points depend on the specific offence and, for speeding, how far over the limit you were driving. As a general guide: 0 points for 1–15 km/h over, 3 points for 16–29 km/h over, 4 points for 30–49 km/h over, and 6 points for 50 km/h or more (which is treated as stunt driving). Other offences carry their own point values — for example, careless driving typically carries 6 points, while failing to signal or not wearing a seatbelt carries 2. Your point total isn't printed on the ticket itself, so it's worth confirming the exact number before deciding how to respond.
Not every ticket carries demerit points, but almost any conviction — points or not — can appear on your driving record and affect your premium. Insurers assess risk differently, so the size of the increase depends on your insurance company, your driving history, and the nature of the offence.
Demerit points stay on your driving record for two years from the date of the offence, but the conviction itself can remain on your abstract for longer - often affecting insurance renewals well after the points have expired.
For fully licensed drivers, reaching 15 demerit points can result in a licence suspension. The threshold is much lower for novice drivers (G1, G2, M1, M2), some of whom can face suspension at as few as 6 points, and certain 4-point offences can trigger an automatic suspension on their own.
Paying a ticket is treated the same as pleading guilty, which results in a conviction and any associated demerit points on your record. Before paying, it's worth weighing that against the potential cost of contesting it, since the long-term insurance and licence consequences of a conviction often outweigh the ticket amount itself.
In many cases, a licensed paralegal can appear in your place, so you don't need to take time off work or attend in person. Whether this is available to you depends on the type of charge and where your matter is in the process.
Missing your deadline can result in an automatic conviction without a trial, along with related consequences such as licence suspension for unpaid fines. If this has already happened, there may still be an option to apply to have the matter reopened, depending on the circumstances.
Demerit points themselves cannot be removed early once they're on your record — they only come off after the two-year period passes. However, in some cases a charge can potentially be resolved for a different offence carrying fewer or no points, depending on the facts and the prosecutor's position.
A standard speeding ticket is a Part I offence notice with a set fine you can pay, dispute, or try to resolve without a full trial. A summons (Part III) is more serious and requires a mandatory court appearance, generally carrying higher penalties. Stunt driving - driving 50 km/h or more over the limit - is treated as a more severe offence with immediate consequences, including licence suspension and vehicle impoundment.
f you were convicted without being aware of the charge, or missed a hearing through no fault of your own, you may be able to apply to have the matter reopened. This process has specific requirements and time limits, so it's best to act as soon as you become aware of the conviction.