OHTA.ca

On Saturday around 01/14/2011 I got a traffic ticket for RED LIGHT- FAIL TO STOP

144(18).

I was driving on credit view passing Britannia road the light was amber before I passed

The stop line and before I was able to finish crossing the street it turned red

The set fine is $150 total $180.

*First the intersection was clear and there was NO car waiting to turn and the pavement was

Wet too so I proceeded cautiously.

I dont know where the cops were, but they lit me up after 800 meter from the corner

*Second the officer reversed my name on the ticket he put my first name as last and last as first

*She told me not to fight the ticket and just go with option 2 plea to a lesser fine

Some traffic people told thats a wrong fine it should have $350 thats another reason to fight

Some friends told me to request a trial in French

I dont have money to pay a lawyer it seems like all of them are crooks they say free consultation

On their website and when you call them they want you to come in with $350

The correct set fine is $260 with a total payable of $325. The Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled that this is a fatal error (London v Young). However, you must go through a rather obscure process to get it quashed. This is done by not showing up on the day of trial. The Justice of the Peace must examine the ticket and quash it if there are no fatal errors. If the JP fails to do this, you appeal it, cite London v. Young and the appeals court will overturn it. This is due to the way the Provincial Offences Act is written. If you do show up for your initial trial, they will simply amend the ticket and go to trial.

Option 2 does not work, except in very limited circumstances. This is not one of them. You will still get the conviction, demerit points and same insurance increase, and the Justice of the Peace is highly unlikely to lower the fine. Fighting it is your only way to get this reduced or quashed.

Trial in French has been rumoured to help. It doesn't. Don't waste your time requesting a trial in French unless you are fluent in the language. If you request a trial in French and it becomes obvious that your first language is English, the JP will become very irate and is not too likely to rule in your favour.