LEGAL HELP: TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR THIS STUFF? (Or... What am I facing for driving badly in Ontario?)
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The "Legal Help" series is brought to you by:
The Professional Corporation of the Law Office of Robert A. Dinnen
4 Government Road East, Kirkland Lake, Ontario P2N 1A2
Telephone (705) 567-7979 - Fax (705) 567-7980
41 Third Street, P.O. Box 907, Englehart, Ontario P0J 1H0
Telephone (705) 544-8878 - Fax (705) 544-8444
Email [email protected]
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF ONTARIO'S DRIVING OFFENCES?
Please Note
- This page deals only with some provincial traffic laws and does not deal with all of them, or with
criminal charges.
- There may be additional legal consequences that are not mentioned here, including other penalties and/or civil liability.
- The information here is current as at January 31, 2010.
Seat Belts and Car Seats
- Driver or passenger over 16 years of age not properly wearing a complete seat belt assembly: 2 demerit points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- Driver not ensuring that a passenger under 16 years of age is properly in an approved restraint system required to be used: 2 demerit points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- Weight of less than 20 lbs: Infant (rearward-facing) restraint system.
- Weight of at least 20 lbs but less than 40 lbs: Toddler seat.
- Under 8 yrs old, at least 40 lbs but less than 80 lbs and shorter than 4'9": Pre-schooler/Primary-grader (booster) system, and not in front of a functioning air bag.
- 8 yrs old or 80 lbs or 4'9" tall: complete adult seat belt assembly.
Not Yielding
- At an intersection or a yield sign, or while exiting a private road or driveway or turning left across the path of an approaching vehicle, or to pedestrians in a crosswalk: 3 demerit points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- The minimum fine is $120.00 in a community safety zone.
Not Stopping
- When signalled to do so by police: 7 demerit points and a fine of $1,000.00 to $10,000.00 and/or jail.
- Wilfully avoiding police pursuit: Fine goes up to $5,000.00 to $25,000.00 and there is a mandatory jail sentence of at least 14 days and a mandatory licence suspension.
- School bus with overhead red signal-lights flashing: 6 demerit points and minimum $400.00 fine.
- Stop sign or light: 3 demerit points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- The minimum fines are doubled in a community safety zone.
Improper Turning
- To the right, not in the curb lane or designated right-turn lane: 2 points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- To the left, not by keeping immediately to the right of the centre line or in a designated left-turn lane: 2 points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- The minimum fines are $120.00 in a community safety zone.
Not Signalling
- For turns, lane changes, pulling over or pulling out: 2 demerit points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- The minimum fine is $120.00 in a community safety zone.
Not Sharing The Road
- With another vehicle which is meeting or passing you or which you are passing: 2 demerit points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- The minimum fine is $120.00 in a community safety zone.
Backing Up
- On a highway that is divided by a median strip: 2 demerit points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- The minimum fine is $120.00 in a community safety zone.
Too Slow
- Operating a vehicle so slowly as to impede or block normal and reasonable movement of traffic, unless necessary for safe operation, or unless the vehicle is a road service vehicle: 2 points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- The minimum fine is $120.00 in a community safety zone.
Too Fast
- 50 or more kilometres per hour (kph) over the limit: 6 demerit points and a fine of $9.75 per kph over the limit (eg., 140 in a 90: $487.50 and 6 points).
- 50 or more over: possible additional penalty of licence suspension.
- 30 to 49 over: 4 points and $7.00 per kph over (eg., 110 in an 80: $210.00 and 4 points).
- 20 to 29 over: 3 points and $4.50 per kph over (eg., 70 in a 50: $90 and 3 points).
- 16 to 19 over: 3 points and $3.00 per kph over (eg., 86 in a 70: $48 and 3 points).
- Speeding fines are doubled in community safety zones.
Following Too Closely
- Following another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent: 4 demerit points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- The minimum fine is $120.00 in a community safety zone.
High Beams
- Not lowering when meeting or following another vehicle: 2 demerit points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- The minimum fine is $120.00 in a community safety zone.
Improper Passing
- Where the road ahead is not free or where someone is approaching in your passing lane from behind: 3 demerit points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- To the left of centre on a hill, curve or within 30 metres of a bridge when view obstructed: 3 demerit points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- To the left of centre within 30 metres of a level railway crossing: 3 demerit points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- To the right, where unsafe or not permitted: 3 demerit points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- The minimum fines are $120.00 in a community safety zone.
Careless Driving
- Driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons: 6 demerit points and a fine of $400.00 to $2,000.00 and/or jail.
- The minimum fine is $800.00 in a community safety zone.
- You might have to face a criminal charge of dangerous driving.
Hit and Run
- Whether or not the accident was your fault, provincial law prescribes 7 demerit points and a fine of $400.00 to $2,000.00 and/or jail.
- You might have to face a
criminal charge.
Not Moving Over For A Moving Emergency Vehicle
- Police, fire, ambulance, with siren sounding or lights flashing: 3 demerit points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- Following a fire truck more closely than 150 metres: 3 demerit points and a fine of $60.00 to $500.00.
- The minimum fines are $120.00 in a community safety zone.
Not Slowing Down And Moving Over For A Stopped Emergency Vehicle
- With lights flashing: 3 demerit points, a minimum fine of $400.00 and a possible licence suspension.
- The minimum fine is $800.00 in a community safety zone.
Drive carefully. If you think you might have been falsely accused, give us a call.
The "Legal Help" series is brought to you by:
The Professional Corporation of the Law Office of Robert A. Dinnen
4 Government Road East, Kirkland Lake, Ontario P2N 1A2
Telephone (705) 567-7979 - Fax (705) 567-7980
41 Third Street, P.O. Box 907, Englehart, Ontario P0J 1H0
Telephone (705) 544-8878 - Fax (705) 544-8444
Email [email protected]