The driver was driving eastbound on Highway 401 near London Ontario. Due to a momentary inattention the driver lost control of her car and drove into the ditch.
There was no other traffic involved and the damage to her vehicle was minor. A tow truck arrived at the scene and started to put the vehicle back onto the road.
The police arrived at the scene, and the police officer told her that he believed that she was driving carelessly, in that while driving she had not been careful enough, had lost control and driven off the roadway. The officer gave her a ticket for Careless Driving.
The driver being honest believed that she had made a mistake, and although the penalty was high, she did not fight the careless driving ticket and paid the fine. The driver had no other convictions or accidents on her driving record and had been driving for more than five years.
Two months later, upon renewal of her insurance, the insurance company raised her rates to twelve thousand dollars ($12,000.00) per year.
When she contacted the insurance company to inquire the reason for the dramatic rate increase, she was advised that it was due only to the Careless Driving conviction on her driving record.
The insurance company advised her that she would be subject to these high rates for three years, until the conviction was removed by the Ministry of Transportation.
Total insurance cost as a result of a Careless Driving conviction, thirty six thousand (36,000.00) dollars!
Probable Court Result
Had the driver fought the careless driving ticket there would have been one of two possible outcomes;
- The traffic ticket would have been totally dismissed in court, or
- The traffic ticket would have been reduced to a minor charge of leave roadway not in safety or other similar charge.
- Fine would have been in the 100 to 200 dollar range
- Affect on insurance would have been minimal
OTT Legal Services are committed to protecting the confidentiality of personal information from traffic ticket consultations in Toronto and throughout Ontario that are requested through electronic communications as specified in our Ontario Careless Driving Traffic Ticket Privacy Policy. We do not share or give out any personal information to any persons or agencies. Perspective and current clients with traffic tickets or speeding tickets should understand and appreciate the risks associated with the transmitting of personal and or confidential information electronically and the potential for illicit interception.
