How Long Is the Roadside Licence Suspension for Stunt Driving?
The roadside licence suspension for stunt driving in Ontario is 30 days. It begins immediately when the officer charges you — right there on the side of the road. There is no hearing, no court appearance, and no opportunity to argue before the suspension takes effect.
What Happens During the 30-Day Roadside Suspension
For 30 days, you cannot drive at all. There are no exceptions — not for work, not for medical appointments, not for family emergencies. Your licence is physically taken from you at the scene.
At the same time, your vehicle is impounded for 14 days. You’re responsible for all towing and storage fees, which typically add up to $1,000 to $2,000. These costs come out of your pocket regardless of how your case eventually resolves.
Can You Appeal the 30-Day Roadside Suspension?
The 30-day roadside suspension is automatic under Ontario law. It applies to everyone charged under section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act, regardless of the circumstances. Even if your charge is later withdrawn or dismissed, the roadside suspension stands — you don’t get those 30 days back.
This is precisely why acting fast matters. The roadside penalties are unavoidable once you’re charged, but a strong legal defence can prevent the far worse court-imposed suspension that follows a conviction.
How Long Is the Licence Suspension After a Stunt Driving Conviction?
If you’re convicted of stunt driving in Ontario, the court imposes a separate licence suspension on top of the 30 days you’ve already served. The length depends on whether it’s your first offence.
First Offence Suspension
A first stunt driving conviction carries a licence suspension of 1 to 3 years. The minimum is 1 year — the court has no discretion to go below that. The actual length depends on the severity of the offence, your driving record, and any aggravating factors.
Second Offence Suspension
A second stunt driving conviction within 10 years of the first carries a licence suspension of 3 to 10 years. At this level, you could be without a licence for a decade.
Third and Subsequent Offences
A third conviction results in a lifetime licence suspension. You may be able to apply for reinstatement after a period of years, but there is no guarantee your application will be approved.
How This Compares to Other Traffic Offences
To put these suspension lengths in perspective:
- Regular speeding: No licence suspension (fine and demerit points only)
- Careless driving: Up to 2 years suspension
- Stunt driving (1st offence): 1 to 3 years suspension
- Impaired driving (1st offence): 1 year minimum suspension
Stunt driving carries one of the longest suspension periods of any traffic offence in Ontario — rivalling the penalty for impaired driving.
Can You Avoid a Licence Suspension for Stunt Driving in Ontario?
You cannot avoid the initial 30-day roadside suspension — that’s automatic the moment you’re charged. But you can absolutely avoid the much longer 1 to 3 year court suspension by fighting the charge and preventing a conviction.
How Charges Get Withdrawn
Provincial data is clear: 39.2% of stunt driving charges are withdrawn before trial. Another 9.1% are withdrawn at trial. That means nearly half of all stunt driving charges in Ontario are ultimately dropped.
When a charge is withdrawn, there is no conviction. No court suspension. No demerit points. No criminal-level penalties on your record. You still serve the 30-day roadside suspension and pay the impound costs, but you avoid everything else.
How Charges Get Reduced
Even when a full withdrawal isn’t possible, many stunt driving charges are reduced to lesser offences with dramatically shorter or no suspension periods:
- Stunt driving → Disobey sign: No licence suspension
- Stunt driving → Minor speeding: No licence suspension
- Stunt driving → Careless driving: Up to 2 years suspension (but often much less or none)
The difference between a stunt driving conviction (minimum 1-year suspension) and a reduced charge (often no suspension at all) is enormous. It can mean the difference between keeping your job and losing it, between driving your kids to school and depending on others for every trip.
“Next Law got me out of a 1 year license suspension without me ever having to appear in court. They are legit, they are professional, they keep you in the loop, and they know their stuff. Thank you Jon!”
— Jay
Jay avoided a full year without a licence — and never had to step foot in a courtroom.
“They successfully reduced very serious charges into a single minor offence, completely avoiding licence suspension and the long-term consequences that could have impacted my career, my family, and my future.”
— Zavier Drake
No licence suspension, no long-term consequences. That’s the outcome that professional representation delivers when facing a stunt driving charge.
How Do You Get Your Licence Back After a Stunt Driving Suspension?
After your suspension period ends — whether it’s the 30-day roadside suspension or a longer court-imposed suspension — you cannot simply walk into a Service Ontario office and start driving again. There’s a reinstatement process.
Steps to Reinstate Your Licence
- Wait for your suspension to expire: Confirm the exact end date with the Ministry of Transportation. Driving even one day before your suspension ends is a criminal offence.
- Pay the reinstatement fee: Currently $150 to $250, depending on the type of suspension.
- Provide proof of valid insurance: You must have active auto insurance before your licence can be reissued. This can be challenging and expensive after a stunt driving conviction.
- Medical examination: In some cases, you may need to pass a medical exam proving you’re fit to drive.
- Road test: Depending on the length of your suspension, you may need to pass a road test to demonstrate you can drive safely.
The Insurance Challenge
Getting insurance after a stunt driving suspension is one of the hardest parts of the reinstatement process. Your previous insurer may refuse to cover you. High-risk insurers charge dramatically higher premiums — often 50% to 200% more than standard rates.
Without valid insurance, you cannot get your licence back. This creates a frustrating cycle: you need your licence to drive, you need insurance to get your licence, and insurance companies penalize you heavily for the conviction that caused the suspension.
This is another critical reason to fight the charge in the first place. A withdrawal or reduction to a minor offence avoids this entire insurance nightmare.
What Happens If You Drive While Suspended for Stunt Driving?
Driving while your licence is suspended is a separate offence under the Highway Traffic Act — and it carries severe additional penalties.
Penalties for Driving Under Suspension
- Fine: $1,000 to $5,000
- Additional licence suspension: Up to 6 months added to your existing suspension
- Vehicle impound: Your vehicle can be impounded again
- Possible jail time: Up to 6 months for repeat suspension violations
If you’re caught driving while suspended for stunt driving, your situation gets dramatically worse. New charges, new fines, a longer suspension, and potential jail time — all on top of the original stunt driving consequences. No matter how difficult the suspension period is, driving while suspended is never worth the risk.
What Our Clients Say About Saving Their Licences
The licence suspension is what scares our clients the most — and it’s what makes them most grateful when we achieve a positive outcome. Here are real experiences from Ontario drivers:
“I was looking at stunt, suspension, and even possible jail time. NextLaw was able to prevent all of that from happening, and I am receiving a speeding ticket instead. This means I will be able to continue driving,”
— Charlie Peeler
Charlie went from facing a licence suspension and possible jail time to a speeding ticket — and kept his licence the entire time.
“I was charged with stunt driving and a facing a significant fine and license suspension. They walked me through the process and kept me updated at all times. The stunt driving charge was reduced to disobey sign and no license suspension. I would highly recommend this law firm. Thank you Jonathan and Dan”
— Chris Tulloch
From a potential 1-3 year suspension down to disobey sign with zero suspension. Chris kept his licence and his freedom to drive.
“Got clocked doing stunt driving, lost license for a month and had my car impounded for 14 days (you know the deal). Was provided with a court date and facing possible conviction of up to 10,000 in fines and atleast one year of license suspension. I just got off the phone with Jon and gave me the good news, my charges were dropped to a minor speeding ticket. Big relief when I got the news. The whole process was about 2 months.”
— Fabio
Fabio served his 30-day roadside suspension — that’s unavoidable — but his charge was dropped to a minor speeding ticket in just 2 months. He avoided the 1-year court suspension entirely.
“I was charged with stunt driving and had no idea how to proceed, dealing with the heavy penalties that comes along with receiving that conviction. I was incredibly stressed out and worried about facing a 2-10k fine, year or more of license suspension and increased insurance premiums.”
— Trevell Nethersole
The stress of a potential licence suspension is overwhelming — but with proper representation, the outcome can be dramatically different from the worst-case scenario.
“I was facing a stunt driving charge along with some other serious charges I’d prefer not to mention. From the beginning, Jon at Next Law made me feel confident and reassured that he could help. He kept his word, delivered better results than I expected, and truly saved me.”
— Steve Johnson
Better results than expected. That’s the standard NextLaw sets when fighting to protect your licence.
“I had an amazing experience with NextLaw and specifically Jon Cohen. He was able to get my stunt driving charge completely dropped, which saved me from losing my license. Instead, he reduced it to just a minor speeding ticket with a light fine.”
— Veronica Roberts
Completely dropped — no licence suspension, no stunt driving conviction, just a minor ticket. That’s the difference between losing your licence for a year or more and keeping it.
Ontario Courts That Handle Stunt Driving Cases
Your stunt driving case will be heard at the Provincial Offences Court closest to where you were charged. NextLaw represents clients across Ontario. Here are some of the courts where we regularly handle licence suspension cases:
Greater Toronto Area
- Toronto (Etobicoke) — 2201 Finch Ave W, Toronto
- Toronto (North York) — 1000 Finch Ave W, Toronto
- Toronto (Downtown) — 10 Armoury St, Toronto
- Brampton — 7765 Hurontario St, Brampton
- Mississauga — 950 Burnhamthorpe Rd W, Mississauga
- Newmarket (York Region) — 50 Eagle St W, Newmarket
- Oshawa (Durham Region) — 605 Rossland Rd E, Whitby
Central Ontario
- Barrie — 70 Simcoe St, Barrie
- Guelph — 36 Wyndham St S, Guelph
- Kitchener (Waterloo Region) — 85 Frederick St, Kitchener
- Hamilton — 36 Hess St S, Hamilton
- Peterborough — 440 Kent St W, Peterborough
Eastern and Northern Ontario
- Ottawa — 161 Elgin St, Ottawa
- Kingston — 5 Court St, Kingston
- Greater Sudbury — Tom Davies Square, 200 Brady St, Sudbury
- Thunder Bay — 125 Brodie St N, Thunder Bay
Southwestern Ontario
- London — 824 Dundas St, London
- Windsor — 200 Chatham St E, Windsor
- Niagara Region — 59 Church St, St. Catharines
No matter which Ontario court your case is assigned to, NextLaw has experience with the specific judges, Crown attorneys, and procedures in your jurisdiction. Contact us to discuss your case.
Ontario Stunt Driving Suspension Statistics
The provincial data on stunt driving charges shows just how common these charges are — and how often drivers avoid the worst suspension outcomes.
Provincial Statistics (October 2024 – September 2025)
| Outcome | Number of Charges | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Total charges received | 11,284 | 100% |
| Withdrawn before trial | 4,422 | 39.2% |
| Guilty plea before trial | 305 | 2.7% |
| Total disposed before trial | 4,760 | 42.2% |
| Withdrawn at trial | 1,029 | 9.1% |
| Total charges disposed | 7,313 | 64.8% |
| Charges pending | 7,120 | 63.1% |
Every charge that is withdrawn represents a driver who avoided the 1-3 year court suspension. Out of 11,284 charges, over 5,400 were withdrawn either before or during trial. That’s thousands of Ontario drivers who kept their licences because their charges didn’t hold up under legal scrutiny.
Regional Withdrawal Rates
| Region | Total Charges | Withdrawn Before Trial | Withdrawal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo Region | 656 | 573 | 87.3% |
| Barrie | 660 | 520 | 78.8% |
| Guelph | 361 | 244 | 67.6% |
| Durham Region | 400 | 269 | 67.3% |
| Mississauga | 778 | 476 | 61.2% |
| Toronto | 718 | 373 | 51.9% |
| Brampton | 1,000 | 475 | 47.5% |
| Greater Sudbury | 221 | 105 | 47.5% |
In some regions, the vast majority of stunt driving charges are withdrawn — meaning those drivers avoided the 1-3 year licence suspension entirely. Your region matters, and having a legal representative who understands local patterns is a significant advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stunt Driving Licence Suspension in Ontario
How long is the roadside licence suspension for stunt driving in Ontario?
The immediate roadside suspension is 30 days. It begins the moment the officer charges you under section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act. This suspension is automatic and non-negotiable — it applies to every stunt driving charge regardless of circumstances.
How long is a stunt driving licence suspension after conviction in Ontario?
A first conviction results in a suspension of 1 to 3 years. A second conviction within 10 years carries 3 to 10 years. A third conviction results in a lifetime suspension. These court-imposed suspensions are separate from and in addition to the initial 30-day roadside suspension.
Can you get your licence back after a stunt driving suspension in Ontario?
Yes. After your suspension period ends, you can apply for reinstatement. You’ll need to pay a reinstatement fee ($150-$250), provide proof of valid insurance, and may need to pass a medical examination or road test. Finding affordable insurance after a stunt driving conviction can be the most challenging part of this process.
Can you avoid a licence suspension for stunt driving in Ontario?
You cannot avoid the initial 30-day roadside suspension — it’s automatic. However, if the charge is withdrawn or reduced before conviction, you avoid the longer court-imposed suspension of 1-3 years. Provincial data shows 39.2% of stunt driving charges are withdrawn before trial, and those drivers avoided the court suspension entirely.
What happens to your vehicle when you’re charged with stunt driving in Ontario?
Your vehicle is impounded for 14 days at the roadside when you’re charged. You pay all towing and storage fees, which typically total $1,000 to $2,000. This impound applies immediately and cannot be reversed, even if the charge is later withdrawn.
Does a stunt driving suspension affect your insurance in Ontario?
Yes, dramatically. A stunt driving conviction with licence suspension signals the highest risk category to insurers. Premium increases of 50% to 200% or more are common, lasting 5 to 7 years. Some insurers refuse to renew your policy, forcing you into high-risk pools with significantly higher rates.
Can you drive to work during a stunt driving suspension in Ontario?
No. A stunt driving licence suspension is absolute. You cannot drive for any reason — not for work, emergencies, or medical appointments. Driving while suspended is a separate offence carrying additional fines of $1,000 to $5,000, more suspension time, and potential jail time.
How long does a stunt driving case take in Ontario?
Most stunt driving cases take 3 to 9 months to resolve from the date of the charge. The timeline varies by court location, case complexity, and whether the matter goes to trial. Some cases resolve faster — in as little as 2 months — while complex cases can take longer.
Get Your Free Consultation About Your Stunt Driving Charge
Your licence is on the line. A stunt driving conviction means losing your ability to drive for at least a year — and the consequences ripple through every part of your life. But nearly half of all stunt driving charges in Ontario are withdrawn when properly challenged. Your case deserves that same chance.
Jonathan Cohen and the NextLaw team have helped thousands of Ontario drivers fight stunt driving charges and keep their licences. We’ve achieved complete withdrawals, reductions to minor offences with no suspension, and outcomes that protect our clients’ driving privileges and their futures.
Every case starts with a free consultation where we review your charge, explain your options, and give you an honest assessment of what we can do to protect your licence. There’s no obligation and no pressure — just clear advice from a legal team that fights stunt driving charges every single day.
Book your free consultation with NextLaw today and let us fight to keep you on the road.
Phone: 1-833-639-8529
Online: https://stunt-call.nextlaw.ca
