| Ontario Justice Education Network: Regional Roundup |
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NOTICE TO PUBLIC REGARDING PROVINCIAL OFFENCES ACT MATTERS
A notice of your new court date will be sent to you by mail to the address on file with the court. For more information, please contact your local Provincial Offences court.
Contact information for all municipal courts is available here: https://www.attornevqeneral.ius.gov.on.ca/enqlish/courts/Court Addresses/poa/
Prepare yourself for battle to fight a ticket
A driver was pulled over by police and given a $115 traffic ticket on a charge of passing off the roadway. He had driven into the wrong lane by mistake on the highway.
“The officer advised me to ask for the option to meet with someone to explain,” “If I did so, the amount would be cut in half and the three points would not be recorded.
The ticket mailed back the same day it was issued. The surprise, instead of receiving an appointment for a meeting, a Notice of conviction. The diver was told the letter had not been received.
He had to fill out an appeal to reopen the case. He went to the courthouse and gave reasons. But a few days later, received an email saying they had refused. No explanation was given.”
He might have avoided the grief if he had photocopied the ticket and sent it by registered mail. The error cost him $285 in fees, 10 hours of time and a suspension of his driver’s license.
Another driver also found it costly and time-wasting to defend them self. They received a $150 parking ticket
She thought she would plead guilty and get a lesser fine. But didn’t check the address and went to the wrong court
She was then told to go to another court in another location. in a few days and apply for a reopening. So they did. The appeal was rejected. No reason was given.”
Most people find it intimidating to go to court to represent themselves. But the cost of hiring legal help like a Paralegal often outweighs the amount of money at stake.
Paralegal firms that specialize in fighting tickets – and their minimum fee is $450. But they pointed out other costs that may arise as a result of a guilty.
· A conviction can result in higher car insurance rates. A few convictions can result in having to go to facility insurance, a high-cost option for those who can’t get coverage elsewhere. More than a few or a couple of serious charges could result in insurance cancellation.
You may go to court to get the fines reduced, but that doesn’t mean your conviction is quashed, insurance companies look for the number and seriousness of the charges. They look at your motor vehicle record and go back sometimes 7 years. A conviction will show on your record forever.
· Traffic infractions can come with demerit points that stay on your record for two years from the offense date, but the infractions stays on your driver record forever. If you collect enough points, you can lose your license
· Parking tickets don’t affect your driver’s license or insurance record. But you won’t get a renewal sticker for your vehicle registration if you don’t pay them.
.
Bad things can happen when you represent yourself in a legal system not geared to laypeople. Misunderstandings abound.
People are told to go to a courtroom at a specific time, so that a judge could hear their case. There is always a number of others waiting for court to start.
One person feeling ill, he decided to drive home, thinking he’d get another court date. Instead, he learned that he had been found guilty and then his driver’s license had been suspended.
When they go to pay the fine as on the ticket, they find out the fine had increased. Then they required to go to Service Ontario to pay the fee to re-instate the driver license. After which you wait usually 4-6 days for the MTO TO UPDATE THE RECORDS FOR POLICE
As for Walton, she had to pay the ticket first and then go to Old City Hall to apply for a motion to appeal the conviction.
Do your research. Go online to read the Ontario Highway Traffic Act and court cases.
A driver was pulled over by police and given a $115 traffic ticket on a charge of passing off the roadway. He had driven into the wrong lane by mistake on the highway.
“The officer advised me to ask for the option to meet with someone to explain,” “If I did so, the amount would be cut in half and the three points would not be recorded.
The ticket mailed back the same day it was issued. The surprise, instead of receiving an appointment for a meeting, a Notice of conviction. The diver was told the letter had not been received.
He had to fill out an appeal to reopen the case. He went to the courthouse and gave reasons. But a few days later, received an email saying they had refused. No explanation was given.”
He might have avoided the grief if he had photocopied the ticket and sent it by registered mail. The error cost him $285 in fees, 10 hours of time and a suspension of his driver’s license.
Another driver also found it costly and time-wasting to defend them self. They received a $150 parking ticket
She thought she would plead guilty and get a lesser fine. But didn’t check the address and went to the wrong court
She was then told to go to another court in another location. in a few days and apply for a reopening. So they did. The appeal was rejected. No reason was given.”
Most people find it intimidating to go to court to represent themselves. But the cost of hiring legal help like a Paralegal often outweighs the amount of money at stake.
Paralegal firms that specialize in fighting tickets – and their minimum fee is $450. But they pointed out other costs that may arise as a result of a guilty.
· A conviction can result in higher car insurance rates. A few convictions can result in having to go to facility insurance, a high-cost option for those who can’t get coverage elsewhere. More than a few or a couple of serious charges could result in insurance cancellation.
You may go to court to get the fines reduced, but that doesn’t mean your conviction is quashed, insurance companies look for the number and seriousness of the charges. They look at your motor vehicle record and go back sometimes 7 years. A conviction will show on your record forever.
· Traffic infractions can come with demerit points that stay on your record for two years from the offense date, but the infractions stays on your driver record forever. If you collect enough points, you can lose your license
· Parking tickets don’t affect your driver’s license or insurance record. But you won’t get a renewal sticker for your vehicle registration if you don’t pay them.
.
Bad things can happen when you represent yourself in a legal system not geared to laypeople. Misunderstandings abound.
People are told to go to a courtroom at a specific time, so that a judge could hear their case. There is always a number of others waiting for court to start.
One person feeling ill, he decided to drive home, thinking he’d get another court date. Instead, he learned that he had been found guilty and then his driver’s license had been suspended.
When they go to pay the fine as on the ticket, they find out the fine had increased. Then they required to go to Service Ontario to pay the fee to re-instate the driver license. After which you wait usually 4-6 days for the MTO TO UPDATE THE RECORDS FOR POLICE
As for Walton, she had to pay the ticket first and then go to Old City Hall to apply for a motion to appeal the conviction.
Do your research. Go online to read the Ontario Highway Traffic Act and court cases.
