Speed-Based Stunt Driving
The majority of stunt driving charges in Ontario are speed-based. The law sets three speed thresholds that automatically trigger a stunt driving charge:
| Posted Speed Zone | Threshold | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Below 80 km/h | 40 km/h or more over the limit | 100 km/h in a 60 zone |
| 80 km/h or more | 50 km/h or more over the limit | 130 km/h in an 80 zone |
| Any road | 150 km/h absolute | 150 km/h on a 60 km/h road |
The posted speed limit determines which threshold applies. In a 50 km/h neighbourhood, hitting 90 km/h is stunt driving. On a 100 km/h highway, you need to hit 150 km/h. The 150 km/h absolute rule applies everywhere — even on a highway posted at 110 km/h, reaching 150 means a stunt charge even though you are only 40 km/h over the posted limit.
These thresholds are strict. The law does not ask whether you intended to drive dangerously. If the radar or lidar reading crosses the line, the charge is laid.
Non-Speed Stunt Driving Behaviours
Speed gets the most attention, but Ontario Regulation 455/07 under the Highway Traffic Act defines a long list of driving behaviours that qualify as stunt driving regardless of how fast you are going:
Tire-Related Offences
Burnouts, tire squealing, and loss of traction — Driving with the intention of causing some or all of your tires to lose traction with the road surface. This covers burnouts at a standstill, tire squealing during acceleration, and any intentional loss of grip. You do not need to be going fast. Spinning your tires in a parking lot at 20 km/h qualifies.
Drifting, Donuts, and Spinning
Driving with the intent to spin or rotate the vehicle — This includes drifting around corners, doing donuts in a parking lot, and any manoeuvre where the driver intentionally causes the vehicle to rotate around its vertical axis. Empty parking lots are not exempt. Police regularly charge drivers who are caught doing donuts in commercial parking lots after hours.
Dangerous Driving Manoeuvres
- Cutting off another driver intentionally — deliberately moving into another vehicle’s lane in a way that forces them to brake or swerve
- Following too closely — tailgating at a distance that prevents the following driver from stopping safely
- Blocking traffic — not allowing other vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians to pass, change directions, or exercise their right of way
- Driving without regard for conditions — driving in a manner that ignores weather, traffic density, road surface, or visibility conditions
Novelty Offences
- Driving while not in the driver’s seat — sometimes called “ghost riding.” This includes any situation where the driver is not seated in the normal driving position while the vehicle is in motion
- Driving with a passenger in the trunk — or in any part of the vehicle not designed for carrying passengers
- Popping wheelies — driving with the intention of lifting some or all tires from the road surface, applicable to motorcycles and other vehicles
Street Racing and Contests
Section 172 also covers racing, contests, and speed exhibitions on public roads. This does not require a formal organized event. If two drivers appear to be competing — accelerating side by side from a traffic light, matching speeds on a highway, or revving engines at each other — both can be charged. The officer does not need to prove you pre-arranged a race. The driving behaviour itself is enough.
What Stunt Driving Is Not
Understanding the boundaries is as important as understanding the offence:
- It is not a criminal offence — Stunt driving is a provincial offence under the Highway Traffic Act, not the Criminal Code. It does not create a criminal record. However, the penalties are severe enough that many people assume it is criminal.
- It is not the same as careless driving — Careless driving (s.130 HTA) and stunt driving (s.172 HTA) are separate charges with different penalty structures. Careless driving does not carry the mandatory roadside penalties. Stunt driving charges are sometimes reduced to careless driving during negotiations.
- It is not automatically dangerous driving — Dangerous driving (s.320.13 Criminal Code) is a criminal offence. Police can choose to lay a criminal dangerous driving charge instead of or in addition to a stunt driving charge in extreme cases, but the two are distinct.
The Immediate and Long-Term Penalties
Roadside (Before Any Court Appearance)
- 30-day licence suspension — starts immediately when the officer lays the charge
- 14-day vehicle impound — your vehicle is towed at your expense ($1,800+ for towing plus storage)
These penalties happen before you are found guilty of anything. They are administrative and stand even if the charge is later withdrawn.
Upon Conviction
- Fine: $2,000 to $10,000 plus 25% victim surcharge
- Licence suspension: Up to 2 years (first offence), up to 10 years (second within 10 years)
- Jail: Up to 6 months
- Demerit points: 6 points
- Mandatory driver improvement course
- Insurance: Rates increase 300% to 500%, with many drivers forced into the Facility Association at $9,500+ per year
The total six-year financial impact of a stunt driving conviction — including insurance, fines, impound, and lost income — ranges from $85,000 to $185,000.
Stunt Driving Charges Across Ontario Courts
| Court Region | Charges Filed | Withdrawn | Withdrawal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| York Region | 1,226 | 142 | 11.6% |
| Brampton | 1,000 | 475 | 47.5% |
| Mississauga | 778 | 476 | 61.2% |
| Toronto | 718 | 373 | 51.9% |
| Barrie | 660 | 520 | 78.8% |
| Waterloo | 656 | 573 | 87.3% |
| London | 670 | 43 | 6.4% |
| Ottawa | 496 | 22 | 4.4% |
| Durham | 400 | 269 | 67.3% |
| Halton | 427 | 201 | 47.1% |
Source: Ontario Provincial Offences Act data, October 2024 to September 2025.
Real Results from Ontario Drivers
Next Law team is very professional and handled my Stunt speeding case without any issues and complaints from my side. I highly recommend to contact them in your traffic court cases.
Gagan Maan
I highly recommend everyone to hire Jon. He is best with his work. Best part, I don’t know how, but my stunt driving ticket gone down to just minimal speeding ticket. I was informed each and every step. Thank you so much.
PRABHKIRAT Singh
Stunt driving reduced to a minimal speeding ticket. That is the difference between a licence suspension and insurance catastrophe versus a manageable outcome that keeps your life on track.
Dan and Jon are the best stunt driving lawyers in all of Toronto! I am so thankful for the great service they provided me from start to finish. From setting the expectations and communicating with me at every step of the way. They won my case and got me my life back! If you’re looking for peace of mind when hiring a team for your case, then NextLaw should be your choice!
EZ Door (Marc)
How to Evaluate a Stunt Driving Legal Team
Check Their Google Reviews
Look beyond the star rating. A firm with 764 reviews at 4.9 stars has handled serious volume. Read the review text — are clients mentioning stunt driving outcomes specifically? Reductions to speeding tickets? Withdrawals? That is the detail that tells you the firm handles these cases regularly.
Look at Their Website
Does the firm have deep content about stunt driving? Articles about s.172, speed thresholds, due diligence defences, court procedures? Can you see who will represent you by name? A firm that puts its knowledge on public display is confident in what it knows. A firm with a generic page and a contact form is not showing you much.
Verify Their Track Record
Ask: how many stunt driving cases in the past year? What percentage were withdrawn or reduced? A specialist will give you numbers immediately. If you get vague answers, keep looking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies as stunt driving in Ontario?
Under Section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act and Ontario Regulation 455/07, stunt driving includes driving 40 km/h or more over the limit in zones below 80 km/h, 50 km/h or more over in zones of 80 km/h or more, 150 km/h on any road, tire squealing or burnouts, drifting, donuts, cutting off other drivers, tailgating, blocking traffic, ghost riding, driving with passengers in the trunk, popping wheelies, and street racing or contests.
Is stunt driving a criminal offence in Ontario?
No. Stunt driving is a provincial offence under the Highway Traffic Act, not a criminal offence under the Criminal Code. It does not result in a criminal record. However, the penalties — including fines up to $10,000, licence suspension up to 2 years, and up to 6 months in jail — are more severe than most people expect from a non-criminal offence.
Can I be charged with stunt driving for doing donuts in an empty parking lot?
Yes. The stunt driving provisions apply to any “highway” as defined by the HTA, which includes most publicly accessible roads, parking lots, and private roads open to public use. An empty commercial parking lot at night is still a highway under the Act, and spinning or doing donuts qualifies as stunt driving regardless of speed or the presence of other people.
What is the difference between stunt driving and careless driving?
Stunt driving (s.172 HTA) carries mandatory roadside penalties (30-day suspension, 14-day impound), fines up to $10,000, and licence suspension up to 2 years. Careless driving (s.130 HTA) has no mandatory roadside penalties, lower maximum fines, and a different penalty structure. Stunt driving charges are sometimes reduced to careless driving during negotiations as a favourable outcome for the defendant.
What speed is considered stunt driving in Ontario?
Three speed thresholds trigger a stunt driving charge: 40 km/h over the posted limit in zones below 80 km/h, 50 km/h over in zones of 80 km/h or more, and 150 km/h on any road regardless of the posted limit. The posted speed determines which threshold applies — the road’s appearance, traffic conditions, and time of day are irrelevant.
Can stunt driving charges be reduced or dropped?
Yes. Between October 2024 and September 2025, 48.3% of all s.172 charges filed in Ontario were withdrawn before or during trial. Many more were reduced to lesser charges like regular speeding or careless driving. The most common positive outcome is a reduction to a speeding ticket, which eliminates the mandatory licence suspension and avoids the worst insurance consequences.
Talk to NextLaw About Your Stunt Driving Charge
Stunt driving covers more ground than most people realize. Whether your charge is speed-based, behaviour-based, or something you did not even know was illegal, the penalties are the same and the stakes are high. The good news is that nearly half of all charges are withdrawn or reduced.
Jonathan Cohen and the team at NextLaw have handled every type of stunt driving charge across Ontario. With 764 five-star Google reviews, clients consistently describe the same experience — clear communication, realistic expectations, and results that protect their licence and their livelihood.
Book your free consultation with NextLaw today and let us review your charge. No obligation, no pressure, and no cost for the initial call.
Phone: 1-833-639-8529
Online: https://stunt-call.nextlaw.ca
