Every day, police in Canada issue a large number of traffic tickets, many of which contain the identical traffic infractions. These common traffic tickets are the cause of the majority of traffic stops, as well as a common reason for Canadians’ vehicle insurance premiums to rise.
Unfortunately, the same driving practices that lead to traffic tickets can lead to automobile accidents, which is another reason to be more cautious and conscious of your activities on the road.
Speeding
This is by far the most common traffic ticket in Canada, and it is usually seen as a minor infraction. Speeding is a negative habit that many of us have developed as a result of our hectic lifestyles and desire to get from one place to another on time. Unfortunately, speed plays a role in collisions, and the quicker you are driving when you collide with another vehicle, the more devastating the impact will be.
A speeding ticket comes with a fee that varies based on the province and how far you were traveling over the speed limit when you were caught. It could also raise the cost of your car insurance. Insurance companies can charge you for this all-too-common ticket for three years from the date of conviction, not the date of receipt, and if you get another speeding ticket during that time, your rates may increase even more.
Going too quickly on the road is one of the most popular and costly bad habits among Canadian drivers.
Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign
At some point throughout their driving careers, most drivers have rolled past a stop sign. It’s no surprise that this is one of the most common traffic violations issued by Canadian cops. It’s easy to just roll through an intersection when there’s no one else around. If a law enforcement officer is present, it may result in a ticket. Worse, if you overlook something, like a pedestrian crossing the street, this traffic offense could turn deadly.
This penalty, like a speeding ticket, can have a three-year impact on your insurance rates.
Failure to Wear a Seatbelt
It is the law in Canada that you wear your seatbelt at all times while in your vehicle. In fact, everyone in the car must buckle up, and the driver may be held liable for passengers under the age of sixteen. Despite the fact that seatbelt use has grown in Canada since the regulations were implemented, it is still one of the most common traffic violations.
Seatbelt use has been shown to save lives in crashes; not wearing one puts you at risk. It may potentially endanger the other passengers in the vehicle. Whether or not this ticket affects your insurance rates is determined by your province and the insurance carrier, although it is a significant fine in all provinces.
Improper Turns
A variety of possible incorrect turns is another common traffic citation issued to Canadian drivers. Turning when it is illegal and turning from the wrong lane are examples of this. This type of behavior can be extremely dangerous because it makes it impossible for other drivers to anticipate your next move.
You may face a rise in your insurance rates as a result of this ticket, in addition to a fine for making an improper turn.
Running Red Lights
Drivers are constantly attempting to beat the light and get to their destination faster. Running a red light can result in an accident and a traffic citation, both of which can be costly in terms of fines and insurance premiums. Because red light cameras have increased the likelihood of cars being caught running red lights, this traffic citation has become one of the most common in Canada.
Many incidents occur as a result of drivers failing to stop at a red light, as well as pedestrians being struck by automobiles. If all you get is a ticket, it can cost you three years of insurance, but it’s unsafe behavior that should be avoided.
Careless Driving
While reckless driving is one of the most prevalent traffic fines, it is also one of the tickets that is most often successfully disputed and deleted from the driver’s record in court, according to Pointts, the traffic ticket specialists. This is most likely due to the fact that the definition of careless driving is less clear and depends on the officer’s discretion.
While fighting and winning this ticket may be easier, it does not make it any less of a risky driving habit.
Depending on your insurance company’s policies, these typical traffic tickets might cost you money on your motor insurance, as well as fines and the risk of injuries and fatalities. These citations are all too common; avoiding them can help to keep the roads safer and cut your insurance costs.
Dealing with a Speeding Ticket
You’ve been issued a speeding ticket and are debating whether to pay it or contest it.
The following are the choices provided by the traffic court:
- pay the ticket
- plead guilty with an explanation
- have a meeting with the prosecutor
- dispute the ticket
Before you decide to pay a speeding ticket, make sure you understand all of the charges and consequences. Speeding citations come with more consequences than just a monetary fee.
What Your Insurance Cares About
Insurance companies only care about “convictions” on a driving record.
A conviction is where the driver:
- pays the ticket
- is found guilty at traffic court
- pleads guilty or does not dispute the ticket
- regardless if there are demerit points or not
Where a speeding ticket goes on your driving record, the insurance can be affected for 3 years.
Demerit Points Don’t Matter
It makes no difference to your insurance company whether you obtain demerit points or not. Only convictions are of importance to the insurance company.
Convictions, not demerits, are what drivers must avoid.
Insurance rates are unaffected by demerit points unless the driver accumulates too many and his or her license is suspended.
The greatest way to save money on insurance is to contest the ticket and arrange a traffic court date. On the court date, the majority of disputed speeding citations (98 percent) are rejected or reduced.
Early Resolutions & First Attendance
Early resolutions, or first attendance, refers to meetings with the prosecutor. The prosecutor tries to persuade the driver to enter a guilty plea during these meetings. The prosecutor will propose that the demerit points and/or penalties be reduced.
Early resolutions and first attendance meetings should be avoided because:
- the charge is recorded;
- the charge impacts insurance; and
- the prosecutor does not have to prove the charge.
Even if the driver pleads to a lesser charge, the conviction will stay on his or her record for three years. Every year, your insurance will be affected by the conviction on your driving record.
98 percent of contested traffic citations are dropped or reduced at a traffic court date.
Setting a Trial Date
Setting a trial date to dispute the ticket is the best option.
When you set a trial date you save your demerit points until after the court date and keep insurance rates low.
By pleading NOT guilty the driver:
- delays or doesn’t have to pay the fine
- keeps any conviction off the driving record for an extended period of time
- stands the best chance of winning the ticket
- avoids any license suspensions
Where the case does come to trial all of the options on the back of the ticket are usually still available to the driver.
Where the case appears at traffic court and the prosecution appears to be able to prove the charge and the officer is in attendance the driver can still:
- pay the ticket
- plead guilty with an explanation
- discuss the ticket with the prosecutor, or
- proceed to trial
Demerit points do not affect insurance rates unless the points accumulate points to a license suspension.
What about just paying the ticket?
If you pay the ticket,
- the ticket immediately goes on your driving record,
- any demerit points are applied, and
- the conviction is available to your insurance company
Any conviction on your driving record will affect the insurance rates for three (3) years.
Where you are a novice driver, the demerit points may suspend the license.
Pleading Guilty with an Explanation
You must appear in traffic court and stand in front of the judge if you plead guilty with an explanation.
The judge’s only option is to decrease the fine. The ticket is instantly recorded on the driver’s record if he or she is convicted. Any demerit points are applied, and your insurance company has access to the conviction.
Any conviction on your driving record will have a three-year impact on your insurance.
Where you are a novice driver, the demerit points may suspend the license.
Meeting with the Prosecutor
Many traffic court clerks have been told to book drivers for early resolution and first-time attendance meetings.
These meetings are not held in the best interests of the drivers.
The courts prefer people to plead guilty, so they don’t schedule court sessions or officers to appear in court to save money.
Court clerks may recommend that you meet with the prosecutor in order to “agree to avoid a contentious trial.”
This sentence is intended to frighten and persuade the driver to plead guilty so that the court:
- receives a conviction and your money;
- and the police officer does not have to appear in court.
Regardless of your rights or the impact of a conviction on your driving record or insurance, this system is in place to save money for the judicial system.
The court is unconcerned about you, what happened, your spotless driving record, or the payments you owe, including the cost of your auto insurance.
If you meet with the prosecutor, they may propose to lower the ticket to the next level, such as a 4 point ticket to a 3 point ticket or a $110 fine to a $50 fine.
The majority of discounts offered for first-time attendees or early resolutions aren’t worth it because the insurance will still be impacted.
Whether the penalty is reduced from four to three points or even to no demerits, the ticket remains on the driver’s record for three years, influencing insurance.
Regardless of whether there are demerits or not, any conviction on your driving record will effect your insurance for three (3) years.
Hire A Traffic Ticket Lawyer!
A lawyer who focuses on traffic law is known as a traffic ticket lawyer. In Canada, this entails understanding the ins and outs of important laws and acts pertaining to driving.
When it comes to hiring a traffic lawyer in Canada, knowing what to look for can mean the difference between a thousand-dollar fine and a dismissal.
A dismissal occurs when the court throws out your ticket and lets you go free. That is the most favorable outcome for your situation.
When deciding whether or not to hire a lawyer, it’s critical to conduct your homework. Read about their firm, the attorneys, and their track records. Many lawyers, fortunately, have all of that information available on their websites. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to come by.
A good lawyer must have the following qualifications before you choose them:
- A good educational background
- Experience in Traffic Court
- Knowledgeable in your particular offense
- Familiar with the area
Is a Traffic Ticket Lawyer Right For Me?
The answer to this query isn’t in the book’s back matter. The severity of traffic tickets varies from person to person. You may be fine by simply paying the penalty and being done with it, in addition to taking into account your circumstances.
People who have committed particularly serious traffic offenses or have received a big number of tickets, on the other hand, face a more complicated situation that could result in a costly consequence. It is best to contact a skilled traffic ticket lawyer in such cases. There are numerous options to pick from while looking for a lawyer. However, you should choose a lawyer only on the basis of their experience, track record, and professional background.
AG Group Enterprise Ltd, thankfully, is here to assist! At AG Group, our objective is to provide a comprehensive spectrum of traffic legal and paralegal services, including speeding tickets, careless driving charges, distracted driving charges, stunt driving charges, and more!
With AG Group’s traffic ticket services, you may safeguard your driving privileges while still paying much lower fees and saving money.
