Know your options before you decide.
Plain-language guides to Ontario tickets and provincial offences court, from someone who has been in those courtrooms since 1996. This is general information, not legal advice. For your situation, call Ken.
Start here
Your three options when you get a ticket
Pay, meet the prosecutor, or request a trial. What each one really means, and why the 15-day deadline matters.
Read →Ontario demerit points, explained
How many points common offences carry, how long they last, and when the Ministry steps in.
Read →Stunt driving: what happens next
Roadside suspension, impound and court. Why this charge needs representation from day one.
Read →You got a ticket. Now what?
Most Ontario offence notices give you 15 days to choose one of these options. If you do nothing, you can be convicted without a hearing.
Pay the fine
Fast, but it is a guilty plea. Demerit points and insurance consequences follow automatically.
Early resolution meeting
Meet the prosecutor to discuss a plea to a lesser charge. Useful in the right case, but you are still pleading guilty to something.
Request a trial
Plead not guilty and have the case heard. This opens up disclosure, negotiation and, if needed, a full defence. It's where a representative adds the most value.
Common offences and their points
Points stay on your Ontario record for two years from the offence date. Fully licensed drivers face a suspension at 15 points. Novice drivers face action much sooner.
| Offence | Points |
|---|---|
| Failing to remain at the scene of a collision | 7 |
| Careless driving | 6 |
| Stunt driving or racing | 6 |
| Speeding 50 km/h or more over the limit | 6 |
| Failing to stop for a school bus | 6 |
| Speeding 30–49 km/h over the limit | 4 |
| Following too closely | 4 |
| Speeding 16–29 km/h over the limit | 3 |
| Distracted driving (handheld device) | 3 |
| Failing to stop at a red light or stop sign | 3 |
| Red light camera or automated speed camera ticket | 0 |
Source: Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Point values can change, so confirm with the official MTO page or call us.
Questions we hear every week
Do I have to go to court if I hire a paralegal?
In most provincial offences matters, no. A licensed paralegal can appear on your behalf, file documents and deal with the prosecutor. Some charges or court orders may require you to attend, and Ken will tell you up front if yours does.
What happens if I miss the 15-day deadline?
If you don't choose an option, you can be convicted in your absence and only learn about it when the fine notice arrives. There can still be ways to reopen a conviction, but they're time-sensitive. Call as soon as you can.
What happens at a stunt driving stop?
Police can impose a 30-day roadside licence suspension and a 14-day vehicle impound, and that's before any conviction. If convicted, the fine starts at $2,000 and can reach $10,000, along with 6 demerit points and a court-ordered licence suspension. The stakes are high, so get advice early.
Will a ticket raise my insurance?
Many moving violation convictions are reported to insurers and can affect your premium for about three years. The points are often less of a problem than the conviction itself. Avoiding the conviction, or reducing it to a non-moving offence, is often the real goal.
Can you help if the ticket isn't in Toronto?
Ken regularly appears in provincial offences courts across Toronto and the GTA. List courts or regions Ken covers Call with your ticket and we'll confirm.
How much does it cost?
The first ticket review is free. Fees depend on the charge and are quoted before you commit. Confirm fee approach, e.g. flat fees from $X
Do you work with lawyers?
Yes. Ken works with a network of highly skilled legal professionals. Matters outside a paralegal's scope, such as impaired driving, assault, family law and catastrophic injury claims, are handled by lawyers in that network. One call to our main line gets you to the right person.
Reading isn't the same as a review.
Send us your ticket and get a free, honest opinion.