How to Fight Traffic Tickets – Things You Need to Know about fighting traffic tickets

When you get traffic ticket, you feel like a victim and your whole day is ruined. You then begin to ask questions from your friends and family and will get on Google to search for answers related to how to fight a traffic ticket. Basically for a few days after you get a traffic ticket, all you talk about is your ticket and how to dismiss your traffic ticket.

Here are some simple tips and points you need to know to give you a peace of mind so that you know what to do with a traffic ticket.

Learn about what information should be on the traffic ticket. After you a traffic ticket you need to check it for accuracy of information by making sure the following information are on it:

1. Color and make of your car
2. Date, time and place of offence (name of the street and name if the city)
3. Spelling of your name
4. Description of the offence and the relevant section under the Highway Traffic Act
5. Complete driver’s licence number
6. Name and badge number of the issuing police office
7. Correct amount of the fine and the correct calculation of the victim fine surcharge.
8. That the ticket is signed by the issuing office (Unless it is an electronic version of the traffic ticket)

Improper information on the ticket or missing information may lead to your ticket getting quashed or dismissed.Although every case is different, but that is only a general rule. Keep in mind that some improper information can be amended in court at the request of the prosecutor.

The best course of action after you get a traffic ticket is to request a trial date within 14 days after you get it. So many things can happen on the day of your trial that can be in your favour such as the officer not showing up, lack of disclosure and late filing of the ticket with the court by the police office. They have 7 days to send their copy of the ticket to court. Anything more than 7 days is viewed as late filing on their behalf.

.When you plead guilty to a traffic ticket and pay the fine, there will be a conviction registered against you and that will remain on your Ontario’s driver’s record for 3 years, and negatively impact your insurance premium. So it is best to never voluntarily pay for a traffic ticket.

When you go to court you have the option to plead guilty with explanation to a lesser charge that carries less demerit points and the amount of the fine is less as well. That is if on your court date you have already received the disclosure and have realized there is no possible defence.   

Although it may appear that there it is such a hassle to go through all those procedure or get a legal representative to defend you in court or to represent you in your absence, but it is a good idea to exercise all your rights and options to protect your driver’s record.