DRIVING WHILE UNDER SUSPENSION

If convicted, your licence will automatically be suspended for six months, you could face fines up to $50,000, and if you are able to get insured again your premiums could be thousands more per year.

In Ontario, there are many ways in which you can lose your driving privileges.

The Highway Traffic Act states:

53. (1) Every person who drives a motor vehicle or streetcar on a highway while his or her driver’s licence is suspended under an Act of the Legislature or a regulation made thereunder is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable,

(a) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000; and

(b) for each subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $2,000 and not more than $5,000, or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 53 (1); 1997, c. 12, s. 7 (1).”

WHEN CAN YOUR LICENCE BE SUSPENDED?

There are many different reasons as to why your licence could be suspended including:

Unpaid traffic tickets or fines
Alcohol-related offences
Medical reasons
Demerit points

PENALTIES FOR DRIVING WHILE UNDER SUSPENSION

At the time of a first conviction for driving while suspended, the penalties are:

A fine, not less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000
A mandatory six-month suspension of your driver’s licence
A possible term of imprisonment of not more than 6 months

DID YOU KNOW

If your licence is suspended from certain convictions under the Criminal Code of Canada, the fine is no less than $5,000 and not more than $25,000.

For a second conviction the penalties are:

A fine of not less than $2,000 and not more than $5,000
A mandatory six-month suspension of your driver’s licence
A possible term of imprisonment of no more than six months

DID YOU KNOW

For subsequent offences related to the Criminal Code of Canada, the fine is no less than $10,000 and not more than $50,000.

DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED

Driving while suspended could now cost you more than your licence. As of December 1st, 2010, police have more tools to get suspended and impaired drivers off the road. This change also means added enforcement against people who have had their driver’s licences suspended for consistently not paying family support.

The seven-day vehicle impoundment applies to a person who drives with a suspended licence for:

Driving while under certain Highway Traffic Act licence suspensions including non-payment of family support
Driving with a blood alcohol concentration beyond the legal limit or for failing/refusing to provide a breath sample
Driving without an ignition interlock device when one is required.

Being convicted of driving while suspended could affect your insurance for at least three years. Even one conviction for driving under suspension could result in increased insurance rates of thousands of dollars per year if you are able to find a company to insure you at all!

DID YOU KNOW

If someone is operating a vehicle while their licence has expired and they get into an accident, the automobile insurance policy is less likely to cover the damages to your vehicle. Other consequences include:

Not being eligible to receive benefits such as income replacement benefits

Becoming personally liable for damages and injuries suffered by the other party involved in the accident.

WE CAN HELP YOU

At Ticket Buster, we will always strive to eliminate your charges entirely. Should we be unsuccessful in eliminating the charges, we will work to reduce the charge and minimize the impact. We will take steps to negotiate with the prosecution to protect against demerit points, and negotiate the lowest possible fine. In extreme cases, we will work to keep you out of jail. Let our winning team fight for you. Fill out our form to get a free quote today.