We employ only the best speeding ticket lawyers, licensed paralegals, former police officers and prosecutors that are now helping people fight speeding tickets and other traffic tickets of any complexity anywhere in Ontario. Court clerks may suggest that you met with the prosecutor, so you can come to an agreement to avoid a contested trial. However, most of the time, we are able to deal with most cases ourselves. According to the Highway Traffic Act, section 128, every person driving a vehicle, is required to comply with established speed limits and is not allowed to exceed them. The ticket will also have the address and contact information for the courthouse you will be required to appear. You will be under oath, so you can't argue that you weren't driving if you were however, you can argue that the prosecution can't prove you were driving, or has no evidence that you were driving. Have a clear reason for your case to be dismissed. Thank you for this help and good day. You check your mail to find a notification that a camera has caught you speeding, or running a red light. Most state laws are silent about the use of traffic cameras. Using technology to enforce traffic laws is not new. If someone else borrowed your car, you can't be prosecuted. Drivers must avoid convictions not demerits. This will increase your chances of getting a positive outcome compared to just going to court alone. Attend Court. Support wikiHow by There are a number of products on the market today that are designed to foil traffic cameras or radar. This will get you off the hook if you live in a jurisdiction that requires tickets follow the driver, not the registered owner of the car. If you were driving your car, try to reconstruct the scene and remember what you were doing or what was happening at the time, and write down any details you remember. If the warning signs were obscured or not present, you might not have to pay the fine. Fight your speeding ticket in court alone. Major news publications like Newsweek, BBC, and the Business insiderhave reported on the incredible work done by DoNotPay in appealing for drivers facing hefty fines. Fighting your speeding ticket gives you a chance to win, saving insurance increases and your demerit points. How to Fight Speeding Ticket in Toronto. Also, be ready to ask police officer questions about relevant facts about your speeding ticket that would help you draw answers proving that events in your case might have been different than what the police officer is suggesting. In most cases, you'll be able to pay the traffic ticket online, however, you'll also have the option to pay the ticket in person or by mail. There are 2 ways: Hire a Toronto speeding lawyer or licensed paralegal and they'll fight the traffic ticket on your behalf. Requesting a court date is the terminology to say you're: disputing the charge fighting the ticket filing for a court date To file for a court date, the ticket must taken to the court listed on the back of the ticket within fifteen (15) days. We hope to provide some help and clarification. But pleading guilty is not advisable, because: As mentioned above, the best possible first step is to seek legal advice (from a speeding ticket attorney or paralegal). Why Fight Your Ticket Here we've prepared a short list of frequently asked questions in order to provide quick answers to anyone who's looking for information associated with the topic. You might have to pay for parking, so be prepared. Depending on your state, the prosecutor will then have a pre-determined amount of time to respond. 2 Check your paperwork for the details regarding your hearing. For example, if you use the defense that you acted out of necessity to avoid harm to yourself or others, you're basically saying that you committed the violation but it was for a good reason. with speeds 50 km/h and 35 km/h over the posted speed limit in a Community Safety Zone the officer will issue a Part III summons to appear in court. Need to, no. Definitely this means that despite the fact that they cannot see who's driving the vehicle, they will still ticket the . In BC, you have 30-45 days to dispute a ticket depending on whether you received the ticket in person or by mail. How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in Ontario There are 2 ways: Hire a speeding lawyer or licensed paralegal and they'll fight the ticket on your behalf. If someone else is driving, and this is clear in the photograph, you can ask to have your case dismissed. was barely over the speed limit (8 MPH). If the warning signs were obscured or not present, you'd have a defense. The court's reason is always " The People is not ready to defend the ticket". Sometimes people decide just to plead guilty and forget about the ticket. Generally, working with an experienced speeding ticket paralegal is the best practice for anyone interested in reducing the risks of gettings maximum fines and demerit points for their speeding charges in traffic court. If there's no clearly identifiable photo of you in the driver's seat, this may present another avenue of defense. Drivers who receive a ticket because a traffic camera created a photo will not be able to dispute the ticket. School zones should be clearly marked so that they can be identified. "The thoughtful way you developed this site to help me has not gone unnoticed. Sometimes people decide just to plead guilty and forget about the ticket. To register your dispute, you need to book an appointment at an ICBC driver licensing office or visit a provincial court registry. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. If any of this information is incorrect or missing it may be an indicator of fraud. The prosecutor will offer to reduce the demerit points and/or the fine. charges involving anyone under 16 years of age Before you search for a ticket Make sure you have the location code and offence number printed on your ticket or notice, so you can look up your case. Most traffic violations, such as speeding, are noncriminal. Research source Speeding tickets have more penalties than just a fine. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Can you fight a red light camera ticket in Ontario? This will include a time and date for your hearing, as well as a specific courtroom address and room number. The lack of a sign can be a cause for dismissal in some jurisdictions. It is your right to be present in court every time. If photos were not included with your citation, you'll need to request copies of them. You become a candidate for criminal charges and even jail time. When Will a Speeding Ticket Show Up on Insurance? Nobody wants a speeding ticket to go on their record. In this case, 90% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This is an absolute liability offence and is considered a major violation. This means that if you are a commercial vehicle driver or manage a CVOR-rated company, then there may be a reason to contest one of these tickets. All the judge is allowed to do is reduce the fine. Setting a trial date to dispute the ticket is the best option. convictions resulting in 4 6 demerit points may lead to 30 days licence suspension. But pleading guilty is not advisable, because: you'll get demerit points; If you want to challenge the ticket, you need to ask for a contested hearing and not a mitigation hearing. Dont just pay the fine or go to court alone, The information contained on this website is provided for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as a legal advice on any subject matter. Hence, fighting your first speeding ticket in Ontario cannot be based on the process your friends speeding lawyer or paralegal used in the past to help them out. If you hire a legal representative, we will advise you in advance should your attendance is required. Every ticket worth fighting. Some states recognize a necessity defense for speeding. To fight a red light camera ticket, you can have your case dismissed if someone else was driving your car when the photograph was taken. the ticket immediately goes on your driving record, the conviction is available to your insurance company, the police officer doesnt have to appear. The speed camera records: speed of the vehicle licence plate, and vehicle In these meetings, the prosecutor tries to get the driver plead guilty. If you were not the individual driving the car, then the photographs should support that claim and you can have your case dismissed. So on a 30 mph road, a camera wouldn't normally activate unless a car drove past at 35 mph or faster. Early resolutions and first attendance meetings should be avoided because: Where the driver accepts a reduced charge the conviction still goes on the insurance for 3 years. Penalties will depend on how fast you were driving over the speed limit. In some states, this is the latest date that you can pay. Make sure anything you bring with you is organized and you have a clean, professional appearance. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Youve received a speeding ticket, now youre trying to decide whether to pay or fight it. 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