subject: Traffic Tickets Toronto: Careless Driving [print this page] Do you know what careless driving means? It means that you're a rather risky driver. But to be serious let's look at the rules, stated in Highway Traffic Act.
Ontario Highway Traffic Act, which defines traffic related issues, explains it in following way:
"Every person is guilty of the offence of driving carelessly who drives a vehicle or street car on a highway without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway and on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both, and in addition his or her licence or permit may be suspended for a period of not more than two years".
The fact that a driver can't evaluate the situation on the road properly is explained as a careless driving. Careless driving can be caused by improper driving habits, lack of experience, or emotional state of the driver.
What can be practically defined as careless driving?
Careless driving can be defined as speeding in poor weather conditions or travelling through heavy traffic, intolerance to other drivers or pedestrians etc. Traffic ticket for careless driving implies a fine and demerit points on your driving record. In case you get a traffic ticket for careless driving in Toronto you must know exactly what you are being charged with. As a consequence of the conviction you'll get a fine and demerit points on your driving record. Under certain circumstances the court may punish you by imprisonment.
There are two types of traffic tickets you can get for careless driving. And they are as follows:
- Careless driving ticket with a fine
If you get careless driving ticket with a fine, you should be ready to pay a fee of $300. In addition, you will have 6 demerit points added to your driving record. What can you do to reduce the penalty? You can plead yourself guilty and explain your offence in court. This way, you will be able to reduce your fine. However, your careless driving ticket will be reflected on your driving record. Another way out is to go for trial. In this case it is recommended to get an advice from a professional paralegal. He will represent your case and will help you to lessen the amount of fine and demerit points for careless driving traffic ticket. This option is likely to be more effective.
- Careless driving ticket without a fine
You will get careless driving ticket without a fine when you've severely violated the rules. This traffic ticket obliges you to appear in court and answer your charge. The penalty depends on circumstances of the violation. As defined by Justice of Peace you fine will come to $500-1000. Also, your driving license can be suspended up to two years. In the worst possible case you may be sentenced for up to 6 months. And it is not the whole list of the possible outcomes. You can easily predict the influence of this traffic ticket on your car insurance premiums. Your insurance company will define you as a high risk driver and your premiums will increase respectively.
