Driving With a Suspended License: Fine & Penalty for 2022
- In this article, I’m going to cover the fines and penalties for driving with a suspended license in Ontario for the year 2022.
- And stick around to the end of the article, where I will explain a legal “hack” that very few people know about that can save you a lot of money.
- If you get caught and then convicted of driving while under suspension, the fines and penalties you face are covered under section 53(1) of the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario.
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1/ An automatic 6-month driving suspension- On a conviction, your driver’s license will be suspended for 6-months.
- This suspension is mandatory. It is not a choice.
- This 6-month suspension will be registered in the driver’s license database controlled by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.
- And that is the database that the Police use to enforce driving suspensions.
2/ Fines that start at $1,000 and go up to $5,000 - And in addition to these fines, you will also pay what is called a victim surcharge.
- That victim surcharge is applied by the Ontario government and amounts to 25% of the fine.
- And, you’ll pay an additional $5 fee for court costs.
- So, for example, on a $1,000 fine, the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario would add a 25% victim surcharge and $5 court costs for a total fine equal to $1,255.
3/ Probation may be imposed- The court has an option to place you on a period of probation for up to 2 years.
- Generally, this probation is non-reporting which means you do not need to report to a probation officer.
- But, there will be strict conditions in the probation.
- For example, a common condition is that you do not drive unless you are properly licensed.
- And, if you breach that probation, you will be subject to fines of up to $2,000 and jail time up to 30 days.
4/ Up to 6-months of jail is possible- The court has the option to put someone in jail for up to 6 months.
- Jail is given to people in specific circumstances.
- For example, if you have multiple convictions of driving while under suspension in a relatively short period of time.
- Or if there are aggravating factors surrounding your offence.
- For example, you drove while under suspension and caused an accident that hurt somebody or caused a death.
- In these cases, you will likely face jail time.
5/ This legal hack can save you $$$ in your driving suspension fine- At the beginning of this article, I promised to tell you about a little-known legal hack that can save you a lot of money.
- So, if you’re convicted of driving under suspension, you will be facing a minimum $1,000 fine.
- However, many people struggle financially and may have problems paying that fine.
- If you have financial problems, you can ask the Justice of the Peace for financial relief under section 59(2) Provincial Offence Act.
- Under this little-known law, the Justice of the Peace has the power to reduce your fine below the minimum amount written in the law.
- So, if you explain your financial situation to the Justice of the Peace, they may reduce your fine below what is written in the law, saving you a lot of money.
- And in addition to these fines, you will also pay what is called a victim surcharge.
- That victim surcharge is applied by the Ontario government and amounts to 25% of the fine.
- And, you’ll pay an additional $5 fee for court costs.
- So, for example, on a $1,000 fine, the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario would add a 25% victim surcharge and $5 court costs for a total fine equal to $1,255.
3/ Probation may be imposed- The court has an option to place you on a period of probation for up to 2 years.
- Generally, this probation is non-reporting which means you do not need to report to a probation officer.
- But, there will be strict conditions in the probation.
- For example, a common condition is that you do not drive unless you are properly licensed.
- And, if you breach that probation, you will be subject to fines of up to $2,000 and jail time up to 30 days.
4/ Up to 6-months of jail is possible- The court has the option to put someone in jail for up to 6 months.
- Jail is given to people in specific circumstances.
- For example, if you have multiple convictions of driving while under suspension in a relatively short period of time.
- Or if there are aggravating factors surrounding your offence.
- For example, you drove while under suspension and caused an accident that hurt somebody or caused a death.
- In these cases, you will likely face jail time.
5/ This legal hack can save you $$$ in your driving suspension fine- At the beginning of this article, I promised to tell you about a little-known legal hack that can save you a lot of money.
- So, if you’re convicted of driving under suspension, you will be facing a minimum $1,000 fine.
- However, many people struggle financially and may have problems paying that fine.
- If you have financial problems, you can ask the Justice of the Peace for financial relief under section 59(2) Provincial Offence Act.
- Under this little-known law, the Justice of the Peace has the power to reduce your fine below the minimum amount written in the law.
- So, if you explain your financial situation to the Justice of the Peace, they may reduce your fine below what is written in the law, saving you a lot of money.
- The court has the option to put someone in jail for up to 6 months.
- Jail is given to people in specific circumstances.
- For example, if you have multiple convictions of driving while under suspension in a relatively short period of time.
- Or if there are aggravating factors surrounding your offence.
- For example, you drove while under suspension and caused an accident that hurt somebody or caused a death.
- In these cases, you will likely face jail time.
