7 Things To Know Before Fighting a Traffic Ticket in Toronto
If you or someone you know received Traffic Tickets in Toronto or the Greater Toronto Area, we are here to help. Our main goal is to use every trick in the book to try and get your ticket withdrawn, like it never happened. Our firm is fully licensed by the Law Society of Ontario and is in the Toronto Traffic Ticket Courts daily.
We pride ourselves in helping all our potential and current clients as much as possible. This article will go over some of the general questions people have when they receive Traffic Tickets in Toronto.
3 Main Reasons To Fight Your Traffic Ticket in Toronto
You may think you can just pay a Traffic Ticket in Toronto, and it will go away. This is not true!
We have listed the top 3 main reasons you should fight your Traffic Ticket
1. Demerit points on your driving record.
2. Possible rise in your insurance rates.
3. A conviction will remain on your driving record for 3 years.
Without going into further detail, the above reasons are the most common reasons why you should fight the ticket. Other factors to consider are your class of licence, how long you have been driving, and what other convictions are on your record. Now that you know how a Traffic Ticket in Toronto can affect you, let’s look at how you fight a Traffic Ticket in Toronto.
How Do I Fight A Traffic Ticket in Toronto?
You are left with three options when deciding how to fight a Traffic Ticket in Toronto. The first option is to plead guilty to the ticket, which we never advise doing. The second option is early resolution; we don’t recommend this option either because you won’t get your case dismissed. We advise the trial option because it is the only way to have your matter dismissed like it never happened. We have gone into more detail below, discussing the three options you have.
Option 1 – Plead Guilty – Voluntary Payment of Total Amount: NOT ADVISABLE
You plead guilty to the charge and payment total.
You can pay the total amount shown on your ticket by cheque, money order, Visa, or MasterCard. Then mail everything to the appropriate court.
Go to any Provincial Offences Court with your driver’s license. Provide your driver’s licence to the clerk, and they will be able to find your ticket. At that point, you will be able to pay.
Option 2 – Early Resolution – Request A Meeting To Discuss Your Case: NOT ADVISABLE
You may be allowed to meet with the prosecutor and come to a resolution prior to trial.
If you choose this option, you will never win your case and never have your case dismissed.
The only thing the prosecutor will do is reduce the charge. You may still be assessed demerit points. The ticket will remain on your driving record for three (3) years.
Option 3 – Trial Option: ADVISABLE
You or your representative will appear in court, file the ticket, and plead not guilty. Then, you will receive the officer’s disclosure (his/her notes) that you can review.
This is the best way to deal with your Traffic Ticket in Toronto and keep your driving record clear and insurance rates the same.
The police and prosecutor must prove the case against you beyond a reasonable doubt. If they cannot, the case will be dismissed. If the officer does not show up, the case MAY be dismissed.
This is the only option that allows you to get the ticket dismissed like it never happened. Remember, your best chance at getting the ticket withdrawn or dismissed would be hiring a legal representative and taking the matter to trial.
Please Note: Take a photo or copy of your Traffic Ticket for your records.
Types of Traffic Tickets in Toronto
An officer could lay many different types of traffic tickets, but some of the most common are Disobey a Stop Sign, Careless Driving, Speeding, Stunt Driving, and Disobey Sign. Understanding what you have been charged with and the penalty of the ticket can be a daunting task. Our goal is to simplify the process by taking care of everything for you. We will use every available means at our disposal to try and get your traffic ticket withdrawn like it never happened.
Speeding Ticket In Toronto
Speeding tickets in Toronto are one of the most common charges laid by police officers in the city. For that reason, we’ve answered some of the most common questions pertaining to speeding tickets in Toronto.
How Much Are Speeding Tickets In Toronto?
A speeding ticket is based on how fast you drove over the posted speed limit. The fines below show the cost per km/h over the speed limit, plus the cost and victim fine surcharge before you go to court.
For example, if you were doing 15 km/h over the speed limit, the fine would be $37.50 plus the cost and victim fine surcharge of $15.00 for a total fine of $52.50.
| Over The Speed Limit | Set Fine Per km/h | Cost + Victim Fine Surcharge |
| 0 – 19 km/h | $2.50 per km/h | $15.00 |
| 20 km/h | $3.75 per km/h | $20.00 |
| 21 – 26 km/h | $3.75 per km/h | $25.00 |
| 27 – 29 km/h | $3.75 per km/h | $30.00 |
| 30 – 33 km/h | $6.00 per km/h | $40.00 |
| 34 – 41 km/h | $6.00 per km/h | $55.00 |
| 42 – 49 km/h | $6.00 per km/h | $65.00 |
| 50 + km/h | No Set Fine | No Set Fine |
What To Do When You Get A Speeding Ticket In Toronto?
If you receive a speeding ticket in Toronto, it is treated the same as any other traffic ticket. We recommend that you follow our instructions earlier in this article about how to fight a traffic ticket in Toronto. Yet, your best chance at getting the ticket withdrawn or dismissed would be hiring a legal representative and taking the matter to trial.
How Many Demerit Points Is A Speeding Ticket In Toronto?
Depending on your speed, there may be demerit points associated with your ticket. Please see below for our chart detailing the amount of demerit points for the speed you were travelling.
** Please Note: Your ticket WILL NOT say if demerit points are attached.
| Over The Speed Limit | Demerit Points |
| 0 – 15 km/h | 0 Demerit Points |
| 16 – 29 km/h | 3 Demerit Points |
| 30 – 49 km/h | 4 Demerit Points |
| 50 + km/h | 6 Demerit Points |
How Do I Find Out If I Have A Traffic Ticket In Ontario?
The first question to ask yourself is whether you remember getting pulled over and issued a Traffic Ticket. If you can’t, don’t worry, there is a way to find out. You have to go into one of the City of Toronto’s court locations with your driver’s licence to determine if you have any Traffic Tickets in Toronto. The court clerk will be able to look up any pending cases against you on their computer system. Below we have listed the City of Toronto court locations where you can find out if you have a pending Traffic Ticket.
Toronto South – St. Lawrence Market
Any Traffic Tickets in Toronto can be looked up at St. Lawrence Market North located at 92 Front Street, East, Toronto, Ontario, M5E 0G2.
Toronto West – York Civic Centre
Any Traffic Tickets in Toronto can be looked up at York Civic Centre located at 2700 Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario, M6M 1V1.
Toronto East – Scarborough Court
Any Traffic Tickets in Toronto can be looked up at Scarborough Court located at 1530 Markham Road, Scarborough, Ontario, M1B 3M4.
How Can I Find My Traffic Ticket Online?
If you have a copy of your Traffic Ticket or Traffic Tickets you received in Toronto, it is effortless to look up your Traffic Ticket online. If you don’t have your Traffic Ticket, you will need to go into one of the City of Toronto’s court locations to find out some information about your ticket.
You will need to find out the court location or the four (4) digits Icon Code. The Icon Code is located in the top left-hand corner of your ticket. The City of Toronto Icon Codes are:
Icon Code: 4860
Any Traffic Ticket in Toronto with the icon code of 4860 can be filed at St. Lawrence Market, located at 92 Front Street, East, Toronto, Ontario, M5E 0G2.
Icon Code: 4862
A Traffic Ticket in Toronto with the icon code of 4862 can be filed at the York Civic Centre located at 2700 Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario, M6M 1V1.
Icon Code: 4863
Any Traffic Ticket in Toronto with the icon code of 4863 can be filed at 1530 Markham Road, Scarborough, Ontario, M1B 3M4.
Secondly, you will need the offence number. The offence number is located in the top right-hand corner of your ticket. It will be an eight (8) digit code ending in a letter, for example, 1234567Z.
Once you have this information, you can go to the City of Toronto’s Court Case Look Up website. Here you can find out your upcoming court date, fine amount, and ticket status.
How Can I Check If I Have Any Traffic Tickets On My Driving Record?
Whenever a police officer issues a Traffic Ticket, the officer will write down your driver’s licence on the ticket. This is how the Ministry of Transportation knows to attach that Traffic Ticket to your licence and driving record. Only tickets that you have paid or been found guilty of will appear on your driving record.
The easiest way to find out if you have any Traffic Tickets on your driving record is to request a copy of your driving record online. We recommend getting the 3-year driver’s record because you will receive the record immediately online. The link below will take you directly to the Service Ontario Website’s Page to get your current driving record.
Service Ontario – Order A Driver’s Record
Traffic Ticket & Demerit Points
Traffic Tickets and Demerit Points go hand in hand. It is almost a guarantee that if you receive a ticket, demerit points will be attached. Let us be clear, police officers are not required to tell you if the ticket carries any demerit points. If they do, sometimes they are wrong. Do your own research to see if your Traffic Ticket carries any demerit points.
How Will A Traffic Ticket Affect My Insurance Rates?
Every insurance company is different, but through our experiences, this is what we have learned about Traffic Tickets in Toronto.
Most insurance companies will let you get away with receiving one (1) Traffic Ticket. If you have received multiple Traffic Tickets in Toronto, you could be in trouble. One last thing to note is the type of charge. Insurance companies classify Traffic Tickets in Toronto into two groups: minor and severe.
Minor charges range from stop sign infractions to speeding charges.
Severe charges range from speeding 50km/h over the posted limit to careless driving.
How Will Demerit Points Affect My Driver’s Licence?
Demerit points are a way for the Ministry of Transportation Ontario to track your driving record. The Demerit Point System encourages drivers to improve their driving skills and protect people from those who abuse the privilege to drive. If you receive too many Demerit Points, there is a possibility you will lose your license for a minimum of 30 days.
Our article called The Demerit Point System goes in-depth and explains what a demerit point is, how they affect your driver’s licence and how many demerit points are attached to the type of charge you received.
How Long Does A Traffic Ticket Stay On Your Record in Ontario?
If you received a Traffic Ticket in Ontario that ticket will remain on your driving record for three (3) years. It starts from the date you were found guilty in court or the date you paid the ticket before court.
Should You Represent Yourself?
You can always represent yourself for Traffic Tickets in Toronto. There is plenty of information online that explains your options, like this article. Yet, if you do not know the Highway Traffic Act and how the court operates, it can be a challenging and lengthy task.
Some court cases require you to attend court three, four, or five times. We can handle most Traffic Ticket violations without your appearance in court. You can go to work while we go to work for you, fighting your Traffic Ticket.
Allow us to take care of everything for you and wipe away any worry you may have concerning your Traffic Ticket. We are aware of the evidence which officers are required to produce, how the court proceedings function and progress, and what evidence you are entitled to receive.
Related Articles:
- The Demerit Point System
- 11 Essential Careless Driving Ontario Facts
- 13 Crucial Stunt Driving Ontario Facts
- 5 Tips to Understanding Stop Sign Tickets in Ontario: Fines, Penalties, and How to Fight Them
- The Complete Guide to Handling Red Light Tickets in Ontario
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Updated March 2026
One Response(s) for “7 Things To Know Before Fighting a Traffic Ticket in Toronto”
I had my g2 license suspended 10 years ago for non-payment. I don’t know what exactly the charges were. Instead of trying to reinstate it, I traded my license for an Ontario ID card. I want to start driving again. I need help figuring this out