Traffic tickets can have a significant impact on both your licence and insurance in Ontario. Here’s how it works:
- Insurance Impact: Traffic tickets are red flags for insurance companies. Even a minor conviction can lead to a premium increase, while accumulating points makes you appear higher-risk, potentially doubling your costs.
- Conviction Stays on Your Record for 3 Years: If you don’t fight your ticket, the conviction remains on your driving record for three years. During this time, it can negatively impact your insurance rates, as insurers view past convictions as indicators of higher risk, leading to increased premiums and potential difficulties in obtaining affordable coverage.
- Novice Drivers – Stricter Penalties: For novice drivers with a G1, G2, M1, or M2 licence, penalties are even more severe. Novice driver violations have mandatory 30 day licence suspensions,. Any traffic ticket with 4 demerit points like speeding 30km/h or over the limit has automatic 30-day suspension for novice drivers. This not only drastically increases insurance rates but also places two strikes against a novice driver’s record, leading to long-term financial and licensing impacts.
- 8 Demerit Points – Licence Interview: Once you accumulate 8 demerit points, the Ministry of Transportation requires you to attend for a demerit point interview to assess your driving record and determine if your licence should be suspended. This is a critical warning stage, and missing the interview could lead to an automatic suspension.
Take Action to Protect Your Record – Don’t let a speeding ticket jeopardize your driving licence and insurance rates. Contact OTT Legal today to fight your ticket.