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13 Crucial Stunt Driving Ontario Facts

You have been charged with Stunt Driving in Ontario, your car has been impounded, and your licence suspended for thirty days.

Knowing what to do next is crucial. A minor lack of judgment or slip of the foot should not mean you have to suffer the consequences of an increase in insurance premiums or a further licence suspension.

This article takes you through the penalties for Stunt Driving, what your next steps should be after being charged, the potential impact on your insurance, and ten other crucial facts that you need to know.

Stunt Driving Ontario

What is Stunt Driving?

Prior to July 2021, the definition was simple. Stunt Driving is when someone is exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h. In July 2021, a new law was created for Stunt Driving in Ontario that has impacted thousands of people so far. You can now be charged with Stunt Driving if you are caught doing 40 km/h or more where the speed limit is 70 km/h or less.

What Speed is Considered Stunt Driving?

If the Speed Limit is 80 km/h or AboveIf the Speed Limit is 70 km/h or Below
Stunt Driving – Exceeding the speed limit
by 50 km/h or more
Stunt Driving – Exceeding the speed limit
by 40 km/h or more

Stunt Driving Definition

The definition of Stunt Driving under section 172 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act is “No person shall drive a motor vehicle on a highway in a race or contest, while performing a stunt or on a bet or wager.”

What Qualifies as Stunt Driving?

If charged under section 172 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act, you are being charged with Stunt Driving. Listed below are the reasons an officer can charge you with Stunt Driving in Ontario.

  • Driving 50 km/h over the speed limit in a posted 80km/h zone or above.
  • Driving 40 km/h over the speed limit in a posted 70 km/h zone or below.
  • Chasing another motor vehicle.
  • Driving a vehicle at a rate of speed that is a marked departure from the lawful rate of speed.
  • Racing another motor vehicle.
  • Repeatedly changing lanes in close proximately to other vehicles.
  • Doing a wheelie (lift some or all of the vehicle’s tires).
  • Doing a burnout (causing some or of all of the vehicle’s tires to lose traction).
  • Drifting or doing a donut (causing the vehicle to spin)
  • Driving with a person in the trunk
  • Driving while not sitting in the driver’s seat.
  • Purposely preventing another vehicle from passing.
  • Purposely interfering with the movement of another vehicle.
Stunt Driving

What’s the Penalty for Stunt Driving in Ontario?

There are some severe penalties, if found guilty of Stunt Driving in Ontario. The penalties include:

  • Roadside thirty (30) day Licence suspension.
  • Roadside fourteen (14) day impoundment of the vehicle.
  • Six (6) demerit points assessed against your Licence, if convicted.
  • A fine between $2,000.00 and $10,000.00.
  • Possible jail sentence of up to six (6) months.
  • Additional Licence suspension of a minimum 1 year, if convicted.

Demerit Points

Demerit points are added to your Driver’s Licence, not taken away. If you are guilty of Stunt Driving, you will be given a total of six (6) demerit points to your Driver’s Licence.

If you would like to know more about how demerit points work, our article on The Demerit Point System will explain everything in full detail.

Learn More About The Demerit Point System

Stunt Driving Fine

If found guilty of Stunt Driving in court, the prosecutor must request a fine of not less than $2,000.00 and not more than $10,000.00.

  • Minimum Fine – $2,000.00
  • Maximum Fine – $10,000.00

Stunt Driving Ontario Licence Suspension

If you have been found guilty of Stunt Driving and convicted by the court, you will face an additional licence suspension, beyond the 30 day licence suspension you have already served.

  • First Offence – Minimum 1 year suspension, but cannot exceed three year suspension.
  • Second Offence – Minimum 3 year suspension, but cannot exceed 10 year suspension.
  • Third Offence – Suspended indefinitely, but may be reduced in the future.
  • Fourth Offence – Lifetime suspension.

How Long Does Stunt Driving Stay on Your Record in Ontario?

Stunt driving will stay on your record in Ontario for a total of three (3) years from the conviction date. The conviction date is the date you are found guilty in court.

While the conviction stays on your record for three years, the court can, by law, look at your driving record for the past ten (10) years for this type of charge.

Fight Your Stunt Driving Ontario Ticket - Take Action Now

Stunt Driving as a G2 Driver

As a G2 Driver or Novice Driver, you have additional consequences. If convicted of a traffic ticket that carries four (4) or more demerit points, you will receive an additional 30-day Licence suspension. The charge of Stunt Driving as a G2 Driver or Notice Driver has the following penalties:

  • Thirty (30) day Licence suspension
  • Additional Licence suspension up to 2 years
  • A fine between $2,000.00 and $10,000.00.
  • Increase or cancellation of your insurance policy
  • Roadside thirty (30) day Licence suspension.
  • Roadside fourteen (14) day impoundment of the vehicle.
  • Possible jail sentence of up to six (6) months.
Speedometer

Is Stunt Driving a Criminal Offence in Ontario?

Stunt driving is not a criminal offence. You are being charged under the Highway Traffic Act and not the Criminal Code, but this does not mean you will not go to jail. Depending on the severity of the charge, the prosecutor can request a penalty of jail time not exceeding six (6) months. If the prosecutor were to request jail time, they would need to consider your driving record, age, and current charge.

Your Next Steps After Being Charged With Stunt Driving in Ontario

Unfortunately, you have been charged with Stunt Driving, your license is seized, your car is impounded, and you have a court date. Let us explain the process of what you should do next.

How to Get Your Licence Back

This should be your first step to ensure that you have a valid Licence to drive the vehicle off the impound lot. After you have served your thirty (30) day Licence suspension, you can go to any Ministry of Transportation office to reinstate your Driver’s Licence.

To get your Licence back, you will need to pay the $281.00 reinstatement fee.

How to Get Your Vehicle Back

After fourteen (14) days have passed, you now have the ability to retrieve your seized vehicle from the impound lot.

How Much is the Impound Fee Per Day in Ontario?

On average, the daily impound fee is between $50.00 to $80.00 daily. To get your vehicle back, you will need to pay the cost of towing the vehicle to the impound lot, and the daily fee for storage of the vehicle. The approximate cost of towing and storing the vehicle is between $800.00 to $1,500.00.

Seek Legal Help

We highly recommend that you seek legal help with this type of charge. You should hire someone knowledgeable of the charge, and the court procedure, to ensure you have the best possible outcome. Stunt Driving carries steep penalties beyond the initial licence suspension and vehicle seizure.

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Understanding Stunt Driving

Ontario Regulation 455/07: Race, Contests, and Stunts

To fully understand the charge of Stunt Driving, we need to look at Ontario Regulation 455/07 because it defines Stunt Driving in full detail. It explains the wording of Race, Contests, and Stunt. The regulation goes on to describe other situations where a driver may be charged with Stunt Driving, such as:

  • Driving a motor vehicle in a manner that indicates an intention to chase another car.
  • When two or more motor vehicles are racing.
  • Driving a motor vehicle in a manner that suggests an intention to cause its tires to lose traction with the road.

Impact of Stunt Driving on Your Insurance

If you are convicted of Stunt Driving, you will likely see an increase in your insurance, or your insurance company will drop you as a client. This is one of the most severe tickets to be convicted of as a driver. If you are under the age of 25 years old, expect your increase to be even more.

Your insurance premiums will not go up right away. Insurance companies do not receive a letter from the Ministry of Transportation, saying you are guilty of Stunt Driving. Your insurance company pulls your Driver’s Abstract when your policy renews. Only then, will they be aware of any traffic tickets on your record.

Insurance Policy

Cost to Fight a Stunt Driving Charge?

There are three costs that you need to pay to in order to fight a Stunt Driving charge. The first is the reinstatement fee of $281.00 to get your Driver’s Licence back. Secondly, is the impound lot fee of $800.00 to $1,500.00 to get your vehicle back. The third fee is your legal fee. We recommend that you hire legal representation due to the severity of the charge.

Legal fees for Lawyers and Paralegals will vary depending on the amount of work required for the file. At Sturino Walker Legal, we understand that no one wants any surprises when it comes to legal fees. For that reasons, we offer a flat fee or block fee, meaning that you pay one price, and we take care of everything for you.

How to Fight Your Stunt Driving Ticket in Ontario

Fighting a Stunt Driving ticket in Ontario can be a complicated matter, depending on what part you have been charged with, under Ontario Regulation 455/07. When charged, you will not be given a regular ticket. The police have already made the decision that you need to go to court to answer for your actions, by issuing you a Summons.

You, or your representative, need to attend to the location, date, and time, specified on the Summons, or you can receive further penalties. Hiring a licensed Paralegal that understands how court proceedings function and progress, what evidence requirements must be met, and the threshold that the prosecutor needs to meet to obtain a conviction, is critical in trying to get your Stunt Driving ticket dismissed or withdrawn.


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4 Response(s) for “13 Crucial Stunt Driving Ontario Facts

  • Soroush says:

    Hello,
    Are the policies as far as 7 day licence suspension for stunt driving changed?
    I was charged with stunt driving. Im positive I wasn’t going 40 Km/h above the speed limit. My car is taken for 14 days and my license is suspended for 45 days.
    Is there any possible way to reduce the 45 days for my licence suspension. This happened in London Ontario and its my first time.

    1. Sturino Walker says:

      Hello Soroush, we would be happy to assist you. Please give our office a call to book a free consultation. Thank you.

  • Sky says:

    Hi I’m wondering how long a stunt driving charge stays on your record I know it says 3 years but does that start when your done paying your fine or when you go to court ?

    1. Sturino Walker says:

      Hello Sky,

      This starts from the day of the conviction.

      Thank you.

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