This morning I got a ticket for an improper right turn off of Victoria Park onto Bracken Ave. in Toronto's Beaches area. I have driven this route a million times before and, in the past, have noticed a sign stating that you cannot turn right onto Bracken from (I think) 7:30-9:30am. I completely thought that it had to do with the school that is at the corner and assumed that it was a Mon-Fri thing. Apparently it's not, since today's a Saturday and I got the ticket today! I will go back and double check the sign, but I'm sure that the officer is correct and it was my mistake. He did say that, due to my good driving record (19 years driving, not one ticket until today), if I went to court, I could probably get the fine reduced to about half. At the time I didn't think to ask about demerit points, but I now see that it's also two points, which is more upsetting to me than the $110 fine (although it's not a great time for me to fork out that much money on something like this either!). Anyway, just wondering about people's opinions and experiences with tickets like this. Is it likely to be worth my while to go to court? I have a 10 month old that I'd have to bring along, which could get interesting, so if it's not likely to result in either erasing the demerit points and/or reducing the fine substantially, I'm not sure that it would be.
This morning I got a ticket for an improper right turn off of Victoria Park onto Bracken Ave. in Toronto's Beaches area. I have driven this route a million times before and, in the past, have noticed a sign stating that you cannot turn right onto Bracken from (I think) 7:30-9:30am. I completely thought that it had to do with the school that is at the corner and assumed that it was a Mon-Fri thing. Apparently it's not, since today's a Saturday and I got the ticket today!
I will go back and double check the sign, but I'm sure that the officer is correct and it was my mistake. He did say that, due to my good driving record (19 years driving, not one ticket until today), if I went to court, I could probably get the fine reduced to about half. At the time I didn't think to ask about demerit points, but I now see that it's also two points, which is more upsetting to me than the $110 fine (although it's not a great time for me to fork out that much money on something like this either!).
Anyway, just wondering about people's opinions and experiences with tickets like this. Is it likely to be worth my while to go to court? I have a 10 month old that I'd have to bring along, which could get interesting, so if it's not likely to result in either erasing the demerit points and/or reducing the fine substantially, I'm not sure that it would be.
In terms of the fine, the officer's probably referring to plea-bargaining down to a municipal by-law infraction, which would also take care of the demerit points, and it also wouldn't go on your driver record.
In terms of the fine, the officer's probably referring to plea-bargaining down to a municipal by-law infraction, which would also take care of the demerit points, and it also wouldn't go on your driver record.
* The above is NOT legal advice. By acting on anything I have said, you assume responsibility for any outcome and consequences. *
http://www.OntarioTicket.com OR http://www.OHTA.ca
Thanks for the reply. Since I posted my initial post, I've discovered that the sign DOES only say that there are no right turns Mon-Fri, so the whole ticket is an error. What a pain. I'm hearing horror stories about the wait times just to set a trial date and, like I said in the previous post, I have to take my 10 month old along with me. Are there any other options when the ticket is so obviously not legitimate? I've taken pictures of the signs, etc. and I have no problem going to talk to someone, but the 4-5 hour wait time before I even get to do that is going to be ugly when I don't have any childcare options at the moment... Such a pain that I'm stuck with this. I didn't want to argue with the officer because I figured that if anyone had read the signs properly, he had, but now I wish I had! Guess it doesn't pay to respect authority that much! Anyway, any tips on how to deal with this, or times when the courts and waits won't be so terrible? **************** Here is another question below by above poster that was attached to another thread, moved here and deleted off other thread accordingly....HTA MOD HB *******************
Thanks for the reply. Since I posted my initial post, I've discovered that the sign DOES only say that there are no right turns Mon-Fri, so the whole ticket is an error. What a pain. I'm hearing horror stories about the wait times just to set a trial date and, like I said in the previous post, I have to take my 10 month old along with me.
Are there any other options when the ticket is so obviously not legitimate? I've taken pictures of the signs, etc. and I have no problem going to talk to someone, but the 4-5 hour wait time before I even get to do that is going to be ugly when I don't have any childcare options at the moment...
Such a pain that I'm stuck with this. I didn't want to argue with the officer because I figured that if anyone had read the signs properly, he had, but now I wish I had! Guess it doesn't pay to respect authority that much!
Anyway, any tips on how to deal with this, or times when the courts and waits won't be so terrible?
****************
Here is another question below by above poster that was attached to another thread, moved here and deleted off other thread accordingly....HTA MOD HB
*******************
monkeypyjamas wrote:
How do I know if the fourth option is an option in my jurisdiction (City of Toronto)? I have a ticket that is completely a mistake - improper right turn at a corner where there are signs posted saying you can't make the turn Mon-Fri, but I did it on a Saturday - and will have substantial trouble going to court to ask for a trial date due to child care issues.
There is a HUGE difference from respect and just plain not agreeing. You could always contact the officer and see if the officer can return to area and see the signage. If the officer sees the sign he/she just might have the prosecutor withdraw the offence ahead of time and give you a follow-up call to confirm. Then call the court and confirm.
monkeypyjamas wrote:
Such a pain that I'm stuck with this. I didn't want to argue with the officer because I figured that if anyone had read the signs properly, he had, but now I wish I had! Guess it doesn't pay to respect authority that much!
There is a HUGE difference from respect and just plain not agreeing.
You could always contact the officer and see if the officer can return to area and see the signage. If the officer sees the sign he/she just might have the prosecutor withdraw the offence ahead of time and give you a follow-up call to confirm. Then call the court and confirm.
Above is merely a suggestion/thought and in no way constitutes legal advice or views of my employer. www.OHTA.ca
Don't plea bargain this one. You could do what hwybear suggests, or, after the trial date is scheduled, you could walk in and meet with a Prosecutor and explain the situation. Bring the evidence with you (photographs, etc). The Prosecutor should then drop the charge.
Don't plea bargain this one. You could do what hwybear suggests, or, after the trial date is scheduled, you could walk in and meet with a Prosecutor and explain the situation. Bring the evidence with you (photographs, etc). The Prosecutor should then drop the charge.
* The above is NOT legal advice. By acting on anything I have said, you assume responsibility for any outcome and consequences. *
http://www.OntarioTicket.com OR http://www.OHTA.ca
You are absolutely right and I was being flippant before. I do wish I had asked the officer to come look at the sign with me on the spot, but I was freaked out by being pulled over for the first time in 19 years of driving and getting my first ticket, so I was pretty tongue tied! I have left a message with the officer and haven't heard anything yet, but for all I know he's currently on night shift or vacation or whatever, so if I haven't heard from him by tomorrow morning, I'm packing up my daughter, a boatload of diverting snacks and toys and going to court to set a date and hoping for as short a wait as possible and as little crying (on the part of the baby!) as possible. Radar Identified, so after the trial date is set, do I wait until that date before I can speak to a Prosecutor? If nothing else, this is quite an educational experience for me and I'm learning quite a lot about how these things work! Thanks for all of your help!
hwybear wrote:
There is a HUGE difference from respect and just plain not agreeing.
You are absolutely right and I was being flippant before. I do wish I had asked the officer to come look at the sign with me on the spot, but I was freaked out by being pulled over for the first time in 19 years of driving and getting my first ticket, so I was pretty tongue tied!
I have left a message with the officer and haven't heard anything yet, but for all I know he's currently on night shift or vacation or whatever, so if I haven't heard from him by tomorrow morning, I'm packing up my daughter, a boatload of diverting snacks and toys and going to court to set a date and hoping for as short a wait as possible and as little crying (on the part of the baby!) as possible.
Radar Identified, so after the trial date is set, do I wait until that date before I can speak to a Prosecutor?
If nothing else, this is quite an educational experience for me and I'm learning quite a lot about how these things work! Thanks for all of your help!
You can talk to a Prosecutor any time after the trial date is set. Just be forewarned, some of them will play games and try to back you into a corner. If they want to engage in brinkmanship, that's their problem. This case is easily winnable. What I'd suggest you do is look at the "Guidelines for Submitting Photographs" thread here: http://www.ontariohighwaytrafficact.com/topic1765.html You could also call the city of Toronto and ask them where you could find the by-law that erected the "turns prohibited" sign at Victoria and Bracken. You should be able to get a certified copy of it. Plenty of evidence. It may be a bit time-consuming, but it's better than the fine, demerit points and the possible insurance increase!
You can talk to a Prosecutor any time after the trial date is set. Just be forewarned, some of them will play games and try to back you into a corner. If they want to engage in brinkmanship, that's their problem. This case is easily winnable. What I'd suggest you do is look at the "Guidelines for Submitting Photographs" thread here:
You could also call the city of Toronto and ask them where you could find the by-law that erected the "turns prohibited" sign at Victoria and Bracken. You should be able to get a certified copy of it. Plenty of evidence. It may be a bit time-consuming, but it's better than the fine, demerit points and the possible insurance increase!
* The above is NOT legal advice. By acting on anything I have said, you assume responsibility for any outcome and consequences. *
http://www.OntarioTicket.com OR http://www.OHTA.ca
Hi everyone. I'm asking for a friend who has a question of interpretation.
He was ticketed for using a hand-held device. He contends that he was acting within the exemption provided under Subsection 14 (1) of O. Reg. 366/09, which reads as follows (emphasis added):
Hey guys i just wanted to know what speeds you see others do on the roads on a regular basis. As we all know no body drives 100 km. It seems they only hit that speed twice once on the way up and once on the way down.
it seems the De Facto limit on the 401 is about 120-130. But lately i dont know if…
On June 10, 2017, I was pulled over by an OPP on the 403 heading WB and told I registered 136km/hr. I kept chit chat to a minimum and took my ticket and went on with my day. I later requested my disclosure and did not receive it until a week before my Oct. 27 court date, and so I had my date…
Anyone know any more information? Apparently kathleen wynne mentioned trying to introduce legislation after more than 20 years of no speed cameras. My guess is that it wont happen, since they've tried before many times to bring it back after it was abolished.
The other day I was given a ticket for speeding 119 in a 90, on highway 17 near Marathon, ON (Speeding ticket capital of the universe, BTW). The officer claims to have "clocked" me using the vehicle mounted radar at 121 KMH and dropped it (presumably to lower fine and demerits).
I posted this in the 3 Demerit Section and haven't received any
responses.
I received a failure to stop at an amber light ticket on April 17, 2009. At my First Attendance Meeting I asked to read the police officer's notes and remember thinking how ridiculous they were and the difficulty…
I was on the right side of the road going straight when a pedestrian waved down the taxi driver in the lane next to me. He pulled over to the right without any notice or signalling and hit me with the side of his car.
There were many witnesses but I immediately had a concussion and did not think of…
My mother was driving EB on a 4 lane street (2 lanes EB, 2 lanes WB).
She was in the left hand lane and started a left hand turn so as to enter a side street, crossing WB traffic. There was NO intersection. She hit a cyclist who was heading WB. Police where called but none showed up. My…
If the speed limit is 50, and you do 100+, not only do you get 6 points. Your car gets impounded for a week, and your license suspended for 7 days, along with a hefty fine of at least $2000. The penalty is actually the same as for racing. The law came in effect on October 1, 2007. Remember -…
I was driving westbound on Hwy. 8 earlier this month in North Dumfries Township, approaching the Cambridge city limits. The weather was clear and the roads were dry. I noticed a vehicle on the shoulder on my side of the road, pointing towards me. This didn't concern me right away, as it is a rural…
