I would appreciate sensible advice on what I should do / what is likely to happen as a result of the following. I approached a school bus on a 2 lane road, which was stopped on the opposite side and had the stop sign out and probably flashing lights. I am a new driver to Canada (less than 1 year but full licence) and have never encountered a stopped school bus before - this situation would also not occur in the UK as school children generally use normal public transit where no special laws apply. I slowed right down (literally crawling pace) as I was not sure what the law was for approaching from the opposite direction. As I approached the bus, and as there were no children crossing or looking to cross, I tried mouthing / gesturing to the driver whether I needed to stop, but did not get any sort of response. So I passed very hesitantly and knew I'd made a mistake as the driver who had stopped behind the bus made it clear. Having searched the MTO site it appears I am likely to receive up to a $2000 fine and certainly 6 points. I feel terrible about this. I have no defense really apart from ignorance of the specific law. The bus driver is certain to report it, especially as I slowed down so much and therefore made it easy for a number plate identification to be made. Based on the above and personal experience, is there likely to be any lenience in the punishment or a specific approach I should take. I am willing to take a punishment but wondered if I will get the full force of the law. Thanks
I would appreciate sensible advice on what I should do / what is likely to happen as a result of the following.
I approached a school bus on a 2 lane road, which was stopped on the opposite side and had the stop sign out and probably flashing lights. I am a new driver to Canada (less than 1 year but full licence) and have never encountered a stopped school bus before - this situation would also not occur in the UK as school children generally use normal public transit where no special laws apply. I slowed right down (literally crawling pace) as I was not sure what the law was for approaching from the opposite direction. As I approached the bus, and as there were no children crossing or looking to cross, I tried mouthing / gesturing to the driver whether I needed to stop, but did not get any sort of response. So I passed very hesitantly and knew I'd made a mistake as the driver who had stopped behind the bus made it clear.
Having searched the MTO site it appears I am likely to receive up to a $2000 fine and certainly 6 points. I feel terrible about this. I have no defense really apart from ignorance of the specific law. The bus driver is certain to report it, especially as I slowed down so much and therefore made it easy for a number plate identification to be made.
Based on the above and personal experience, is there likely to be any lenience in the punishment or a specific approach I should take. I am willing to take a punishment but wondered if I will get the full force of the law.
If you weren't stopped by police at the time of the offence, it's unlikely you'll be charged as the driver, since that would require you being identified. More likely if they recorded your plate the registered owner of the vehicle will be charged. If you're charged as the registered owner, there are no demerit points. You'll also likely receive the default set fine (iirc $490). You could possibly try requesting a reduction in the fine, but in my experience Courts are hesitant to offer breaks on more serious offences. The fact that you were unaware of the law will have no traction in Court.
If you weren't stopped by police at the time of the offence, it's unlikely you'll be charged as the driver, since that would require you being identified. More likely if they recorded your plate the registered owner of the vehicle will be charged. If you're charged as the registered owner, there are no demerit points. You'll also likely receive the default set fine (iirc $490).
You could possibly try requesting a reduction in the fine, but in my experience Courts are hesitant to offer breaks on more serious offences. The fact that you were unaware of the law will have no traction in Court.
Thanks for the post. Just to clarify - I am not the owner of the car (my wife is) but I am a named driver. Would it therefore be enough for the bus driver to identify the driver as male and thus it be obvious to anyone that it was me? Or would this level of confirmation require police intervention to hold up officially? While the fine is obviously not ideal I am very worried about the impact of this on insurance.
Thanks for the post. Just to clarify - I am not the owner of the car (my wife is) but I am a named driver. Would it therefore be enough for the bus driver to identify the driver as male and thus it be obvious to anyone that it was me? Or would this level of confirmation require police intervention to hold up officially? While the fine is obviously not ideal I am very worried about the impact of this on insurance.
It is very unlikely the police would go to the effort of trying to identify the driver short of their being an accident or something similar. Being charged as the owner will not impact your insurance rates.
It is very unlikely the police would go to the effort of trying to identify the driver short of their being an accident or something similar. Being charged as the owner will not impact your insurance rates.
Thanks. Reading through other posts it does seem likely that, if reported, it would have to be against the owner of the vehicle and not the driver, as this would require police presence at the time of the offence. I guess we should just expect a letter in the mail some time soon. At the very least it is a stupid mistake I will not be making again.
Thanks. Reading through other posts it does seem likely that, if reported, it would have to be against the owner of the vehicle and not the driver, as this would require police presence at the time of the offence. I guess we should just expect a letter in the mail some time soon.
At the very least it is a stupid mistake I will not be making again.
I just went to a traffic ticket paralegal firm (who shall remain unnamed) as was passing by. Quickly explained the situation and was told that all the bus driver would have to do is identify a male matching my description to be enough to charge me as the driver (rather than the vehicle owner route). They also said that this would not be mailed but instead the cops will come to my house. This kind of goes against a lot of what I am reading on here - but of course their job is to make me think the worst and that I will need representation? My question is this - are they right and if so what is the timeframe for expecting a knock at the door? And if it is delivered in person, what is the likelihood that a 100km round trip would be made from a different region to issue this?
I just went to a traffic ticket paralegal firm (who shall remain unnamed) as was passing by. Quickly explained the situation and was told that all the bus driver would have to do is identify a male matching my description to be enough to charge me as the driver (rather than the vehicle owner route). They also said that this would not be mailed but instead the cops will come to my house. This kind of goes against a lot of what I am reading on here - but of course their job is to make me think the worst and that I will need representation?
My question is this - are they right and if so what is the timeframe for expecting a knock at the door? And if it is delivered in person, what is the likelihood that a 100km round trip would be made from a different region to issue this?
The fine is not the issue but I am worried about insurance rates. First speeding ticket in my life Any suggestions on how to handle this? I can't afford to spend a day at the court
So was at court today in Orillia for a friend, and I had submitted a couple notice of motion a couple weeks ago that I wanted to deal with before arraignment. I met with prosecutor before hand, and it went something like this:
Prosecutor: "Do you have the case law?"
Me: "What do you mean?"
Prosecutor: "Do you have the case law for your motion?"
Me: "All the case law is quoted in the motion that I…
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I got pulled over because I had 2 letters peeling off my license plate. I know ignorance isn't a defense, but I really had no idea that this was an issue. Plus, you see many cars on the road with peeling plates. I got both tickets and…
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I only have my G2.
1. Will this affect me taking the G test next month?
2. I am very grateful for the officer lowering the ticket... should I just pay the 52.5$ and leave it as is.. I am a secondary driver under my dads name and we have…
Hi, thanks in advance for the help. Been driving for 10 years, clean record until today when I got slapped with two tickets. First: going 135 at 100 on the 401, second: not having a valid sticker (I recently moved and completely forgot about it)
My friend tells me I should fight the speed ticket, if anything to reduce the fine and points. Would be alot of help if anyone could walk me through…
My wife, who has never had a traffic ticket in her life, just got 11 points.
Two tickets: "following too closely" and "failure to stop"
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I was driving in mid lane and was following a line of cars around speed limit.
The vehicle in front of me was large and I decided to change to the left lane to get better line sight.
As soon as I entered the left lane, I saw the car in front of me approximately 200m away stopped dead (for some odd reason, there was more traffic on the left lane).
Over the last few months I have received several parking tickets from the City of Kitchener. I haven't paid any of them and have attempted to dicuss the situation with the parking authority of the City, however, they're very unreceptive and defensive.
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I am new to this website and this is my first post so please forgive me if I've put this question in the wrong place. Please bear with me until I learn the ropes a bit.
So here are my questions:
Antique cars and hot rods (1930's- early '60's) and seat belt use in Ontario. If these vehicles never came from the respective factories with any seat belts, do they have to be retrofitted ?
OK so Jshreck has been taking some heat for the concept of providing the DL as being not required and therefore inadmissable in court. Personally, I think that argument would fall on deaf ears in the lower court and any chance at victory would have to be in the highest court. That would be quite something. When pigs fly I think, but along that line of thought, allow me to continue.......
I have a court date soon and am wondering whether the officers just read off their disclosure notes when interrogated.
Basically, according to the disclosure notes and the said distances and speeds quoted, by doing some simple math it just doesn't add up. My concern is whether the officer can change his story when on the stand after maybe realizing this?
Last week I was driving home from college in the sauga area. I drive a 1995 Chevy Monte Carlo v6 which I've owned since 2000, I really haven't done anything to the car except tinted windows (not completely darken) and some rims, and Nothing Engine wise. Anyway I look in my rear view mirror and out of no where i see cherry flashing. When pulled over the officer asked do you…
I was charged 2 days ago with RED LIGHT - FAIL TO STOP and set fined $150 and I guess 3 points. I was driving turning left on the intersection with a traffic light, and when I jst about to turn left the light turned to orange and I didn't have enough time to stop. Once I turned I saw the light turned to red and 2seconds later I saw a police beacon flashing through my rear-view mirror. It…
I figured pleading not guilty is the same as saying it was signed which is stupid. A friend of mine told me I could plead guilty with explanation and try to get the fine reduced when I come in.
So this Friday I was stopped by a local officer for going 110 in a 80zone. He also claims I was going 105 in a 50zone,which we literally passed when he stopped me as I was braking. It has been 3 days already and I can't seem to locate my ticket on their Internet site "pay ticket". Is there a way to determine if he has filed for certificate of offence to the courts? It has been 3 days I presume…
My trial date is in a couple days for a speeding ticket (york region) and i am nervous it is my first ticket ever as well as first trial
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If you look close enough, beside the drivers' side "A" pillar you will see a white circle = front antenna of Genesis radar......plus look above the dash pad...there is the Spectre RDD.
Any suggestions on how to handle this? I can't afford to spend a day at the court 
