Driving Under Suspension
Driving-under-suspension charges
are very serious in terms of the fine that is given as well as the other
repercussions that come with a conviction. A driver’s license can be suspended
for any number of reasons in Ontario including the following:
- Accumulation of demerit points
- Failing to pay tickets or fines
- Stunt driving or racing
- Impaired driving
- Medical suspension
- Failure to pay child support
If your license is suspended for
any reason, it is illegal to operate a vehicle under any circumstances. The
reasons for the license suspension however will have a huge impact on the
penalties that accompany the charge.
Understanding Driving-Under-Suspension Charges
If your license is suspended for
violations of the Highway Traffic Act or for non-criminal acts such as
speeding tickets or violations
of either the G1 or G2 license, the fine for driving under suspension is a
minimum of $1,000 with a maximum of $5,000 for a first offense. A second or
subsequent offense will carry a minimum fine of $2,000. It is mandatory that an
additional six months be added to the current suspension length. A conviction
can also carry up to a six-month jail term at the court’s discretion.
If your license was suspended
for a criminal code offense such as impaired driving, failing to remain at the
scene of an accident or dangerous driving, the penalties are much more severe.
A first offense for driving under suspension brings a fine of between
$5,000-25,000. Subsequent offenses carry fines of $10,000-50,000. There is an
additional year added to the suspension length and up to a two-year prison
term.
Dealing with Driving-Under-Suspension Charges
Driving under suspension is a
serious offense. Just like any other type of serious offense, it is always best
to avoid doing it if at all possible. In the case that you are charged with
driving under suspension, you should always consult with experienced legal
professionals as soon as possible to discuss the situation, understand the
implications of a conviction and discover what options are available to help you
protect yourself.
Discussing your unique situation with experienced
professionals is vital to finding the best course of action to deal with a
driving-under-suspension charge. It is always advisable to fight the charge and
attempt to have the charges dropped.
Finding the Best Representation
Fighting a major charge (or even
lesser charges like speeding) is an important endeavor and you should take
every precaution to ensure you find the best representation.
Ensure that the representation
you choose takes the time to completely look into the circumstances surrounding
the charge and every significant aspect of the situation. This often includes
accessing and analyzing the police officer notes and other evidence that has
been collected. It will also include filing any legal notions that are
necessary on your behalf.
There are experienced
professionals who have been providing sound advice and effective representation
for clients for over 20 years in Ontario. The experience is vital for helping
clients dismiss every type of
traffic
ticket and successfully representing clients in court against major
charges.
Consult with experienced
professionals and obtain effective representation to fight your driving-under-suspension
charges today.