Professional Traffic Ticket Representation:

Question: What should I do if I’ve been charged with a major driving offence in Ontario and I’m worried about demerit points, licence suspension, and higher insurance rates?

Answer: If you’ve been charged with a major driving offence in Ontario, a paralegal at SFG Paralegal Services LLP can help you understand likely consequences like demerit points, potential licence suspension, and higher insurance premiums, then review your case facts to map out defence strategy options that fit your driving record and employment requirements.   You can also benefit from experienced help questioning witnesses, identifying paperwork or procedure issues, and building clear, courtroom-ready arguments to reduce the risk of the harshest outcomes.   For a fast case review, call (888) 398-0121 or contact SFG Paralegal Services LLP to discuss your charge and next steps.

Providing Strategic Defence Advocacy

Major charges, whether isolated or in combination with other offences, can drive insurance premiums higher and may lead to a lengthy licence suspension if compounded by previous convictions or too many demerit points. Significant fines are also likely. As such, it is essential to seek a thorough professional review of the legal facts, the possible outcomes, and the available defence strategies, for any major charge.

Protecting Against Significant Consequences

Upon conviction for a serious traffic offence, a driver is usually hit with substantial fines and surcharges, and the driver can also expect insurance rates to rise considerably for the following three years. A poor prior driving record may also lead to a potential licence suspension or additional penalties.

Factors Tending to Aggravate Penalties

The affects of conviction for a major driving offence can be significantly further aggravated:

• When a driver was previously convicted within the past three years on another charge;
• When a driver is on the cusp of having accumulated too many demerit points and this latest major charge now puts the driver at risk of a licence suspension, among other penalties; and
• When a driver is required to maintain a good driving record as a condition of employment.

Conclusion

Traffic tickets of the major charges type pose serious consequences involving substantial fines plus victim surcharges as well as demerit points that may be the straw that breaks the camel's back resulting in a license suspension.  Additionally, a major charge may result in substantially increased insurance rates including the potential for loss of access to standard insurance market and substitute placement into the highly priced Facility Association.

Accordingly, when charged with a major traffic ticket offence, hiring a professional who knows how to question witnesses, especially which questions to ask and which questions to avoid, and who knows the law, knows the paperwork processes and courtroom procedures, and knows how to make judicially persuasive arguments on the applicable legal principles, is highly important.