How does a speeding ticket affect me?
If you get a speeding ticket from a police officer, your driving record will show that you have a conviction. This will happen whether you pay the ticket, negotiate a plea deal, or are found guilty at trial. The only way to avoid this is to be found not guilty at trial.
But if you get an “Automated Speed Enforcement” ticket, then your driving record will not be affected. These tickets come from automated speeding cameras and only come with a fine.
Most speeding tickets stay on your driving record for 3 years. But, if you have a large number of tickets, they can sometimes affect you for more than 3 years.
In addition to the fine, speeding tickets can also:
- add demerit points to your licence
- increase your insurance payments
- result in your licence being suspended if you get enough tickets
- affect your chances of employment
Your driving record also includes any tickets you get in different provinces, as well as tickets you get in the States of New York and Michigan. You will get the same number of demerit points as if you got the ticket in Ontario.
To learn more about driver’s record checks or to order your driver’s record, you can visit a ServiceOntario centre near you. Or, to order one online, go to https://www.ontario.ca/page/order-drivers-record.
Provincial Offences Court
Municipally run courts across Ontario deal with speeding tickets. These courts are known as Provincial Offences Court or “traffic court”. To find your local Provincial Offences Court, visit https://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/courts/Court_Addresses/poa/.
Get legal help
You may want to get legal advice from a lawyer or paralegal about how a speeding ticket conviction can impact you and what options you have.
