A stunt driving roadside charge can be a devastating experience, especially if you were unaware of your speed. An officer pulls you over, writes a summons, possibly arrests you for a short time, tows your car, suspends your license, and then leaves you figure out how to get to your destination. It is a lot to absorb in a short period of time. What if you were unhappy about the way you were treated by the officer? Let’s investigate.
The officer was angry and rude. Does this help my case?
Generally, the answer is no. Even though you are upset by your situation, stunt driving is considered a serious public safety threat to the Ontario roads. Officers are responsible for the well-being of citizens, and according to the law, you have just put people’s lives at risk with your speed. This can anger a police officer, as you have endangered drivers and pedestrians. As long as the officer’s behaviour is legal, they are entitled to be emotional. And remember, according to the officer, you are the person that caused them to get emotional. You should always cooperate, because your interaction with the officer is recorded in the evidence. They are allowed to get angry due to your Stunt Driving charge. It does not look good if you get angry at them in return. There will be little sympathy from a prosecutor or Justice of the Peace in court.
The officer just left me at the road and left. I had no car, no license and they didn’t help me.
The court’s response would probably be… “too bad”. You broke the law, and this is something that you will have to deal with (according to the law). If you had children in car, if it was winter, if you were alone, if you don’t have your ID….none of this is the responsibility of the officer. The officer can always choose to be helpful. But if they are not, that is not something that has any affect on your Stunt Driving case.
Should I bring this up in court or to my legal representative?
You are free to discuss the officer’s treatment at the roadside. However, it will rarely benefit you at all. In fact, it can have the opposite effect.
A Stunt Driving charge in Ontario relies on the evidence of the radar or the officer’s judgement. Unless the officer’s treatment alters the radar, then it has little bearing on the evidence. Prosecutor’s have little sympathy for your roadside experience. In their mind, you were endangering the public. So telling them the story of the officer will most likely frustrate the court process and can negatively affect your case.
The smart move – get help from a Stunt Driving law firm
Your driver’s license is at risk for 1-3 years. Deal with this properly. Don’t waste the court’s time. Let’s focus on keeping you driving with minimal damage to your driving record.
Can an angry officer's behaviour impact my Stunt Driving case?
No, the officer's behaviour, as long as it is legal, will not impact the outcome of your Stunt Driving case. The case is based on the evidence of the radar or the officer's judgement. The officer's emotions during the incident will not be considered by the court, and even if you raise this issue in court, it will likely not have any effect on your case.
What should I do if the officer left me at the road without any help?
Unfortunately, if the officer left you without help, that is not something that will have any effect on your Stunt Driving case. The court will view you as having broken the law and it is your responsibility to deal with the consequences. It is recommended to seek help from a Stunt Driving law firm to minimize damage to your driving record.
