Driving with a Suspended Licence in Ontario
Driver’s license suspension is a serious issue in Ontario. The most common reason for license suspension is unpaid fines. Still, it can also happen for various other reasons, such as criminal driving offences like driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, dangerous driving, medical suspensions, failure to appear for trial, exceeding demerit points, and careless or stunt driving charges. No matter why your license is suspended, driving with a suspended license is illegal. Anyone who drives a car while their license is suspended is guilty of an offence.
Penalties for Driving with a Suspended Licence
- An additional six-month suspension of driver’s licence suspension
- You’ll be fined anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 on a first conviction.
- The fine ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 on a second or subsequent conviction.
- Car impoundment
To discourage impaired and suspended driving, Ontario has introduced the Vehicle-Impoundment Program. Under this program, vehicle impoundments for a minimum of seven days are imposed on drivers found operating a vehicle while their license is suspended under the Highway Traffic Act. If the license is suspended for a Criminal Code offence, the impound period increases to a minimum of 45 days. These impoundments apply even if the vehicle is borrowed from someone or rented. The owner of the impounded vehicle is responsible for paying the towing and storage costs incurred.
Vehicle owners are encouraged to verify the validity of a driver’s license before lending or renting their vehicle. This can be done through a phone or online check or by obtaining a driver’s abstract from any Service Ontario center for a nominal fee
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You’ve Been Charged – Now What?
- Stop driving – the last thing you need is another ticket for driving with a suspended licence.
- It is advisable to hire a lawyer immediately.
How to Fight Driving Without Insurance in Ontario?
Hire a traffic lawyer or paralegal to represent you in court
*Remember, if you choose to simply pay the fine and not go to court, you are pleading guilty
It is highly recommended that you seek legal representation immediately if facing a driving under suspension charge. Having a lawyer represent you will significantly improve your chances of winning in court and avoid hefty penalties for careless driving. If you choose not to hire representation, you must be ready to go through the complicated process alone.
Why Hire a Traffic Lawyer?
As previously stated, hiring a traffic lawyer can improve your chances of winning in court if you have been caught driving with a suspended license. And with a lawyer, you may not even need to attend court yourself. Fighting a driving under suspension charge is time-consuming and requires relevant knowledge and experience to achieve positive results in court. Therefore, working with a professional lawyer like X-Police is highly recommended to avoid frustrating outcomes.
Learn more about the Ontario Highway Traffic Act