I got a ticket the other day for following too close and have scheduled a meeting with the prosecutor and am wondering if there is a possibility of a lighter charge that they could knock it down to because I really don't feel this is worth 4 demerit points. Here's the situation: It was in a known speed trap area in town and I had actually consciously thought that the police might be out at this time. But, the driver in from of me was traveling 40km/h (the posted speed limit) so I figured I had nothing to worry about. Wrong. It's an interesting road and there is a general consensus that the speed limit is far too low (probably why they're able to catch so many speeders). It's a 40 road with lanes wide enough to fit a car and a half that only has the backs of houses facing the road. Down the road from where I got pulled over there is a high school and an elementary school. The speed limit in front of the high school is 40 and in front of the elementary school is 50 (that makes sense in somebody's mind I guess). Anyways, it was around lunch time and a bus was going in the opposite direction and the car in front of me and myself were going down the hill. Once the bus had passed the guy in front of me got spooked and put on his brakes (the natural reaction to cops even if you're going the limit). No collision occurred but I was a bit closer than I usually would have been since he had just braked rather suddenly. At this point the officer working the radar gun motioned to me and told me to pull over and issued a ticket for following to closely. In my mind I had left ample room to brake in time to avoid a collision (shown by the obvious evidence that my car doesn't have a nice dent on the front bumper now). It was a 40km/h road so the speeds obviously weren't as dangerous as on a faster road. But, nonetheless there are still 4 demerit points attached to this ticket. Essentially had I been going 89km/h on the road and been ticketed for the my fine would have been bigger but I would have only got 4 demerits. I'm wondering though what the prosecutor can really offer with my situation. From a quick look I can't really see another similar offense that it could be knocked down to so is there anyway that they can issue the fine ($110 isn't a huge hit to me) and just scrap the points involved? Or is the prosecutor able to change it to an unrelated offense of similar fine value (I'm guessing this is probably a big no no)? Thanks for the help and I appreciate any comments.
Just got a call from the prosecutor and she tells me that the only thing she'll offer me tomorrow is to withdraw the charges if I enroll and complete a driver's education program. In all honesty I think I'm going to go with it seeing as how I can schedule the program around my work schedule and it basically makes everything go away. $110 ticket + Insurance hikes + 4 Demerit will almost certainly cost me more than the driver's ed. However, I'm really curious because one of the things she mentioned was that I was observed following too close for 600m by the officer. At a rate of 40km/h (the posted speed limit) this means the officer claims to have observed me for 54 seconds before pulling me over. The road itself according to Google Maps is approximately 1km long between intersections (I was stopped according to Google Maps at around the 600m mark). So based on this I must have been observed following too closely since the intersection. There's one slight flaw in this case that this road is on a hill and there is really only 200m-300m visibility from my direction from where she was standing. Had I not been offered the deal I was I have a feeling this could have struck pretty reasonable doubt into the officer's ability to estimate distance (overestimating by 2 to 3 times on such a large scale :wink: ).
Just got a call from the prosecutor and she tells me that the only thing she'll offer me tomorrow is to withdraw the charges if I enroll and complete a driver's education program. In all honesty I think I'm going to go with it seeing as how I can schedule the program around my work schedule and it basically makes everything go away. $110 ticket + Insurance hikes + 4 Demerit will almost certainly cost me more than the driver's ed.
However, I'm really curious because one of the things she mentioned was that I was observed following too close for 600m by the officer. At a rate of 40km/h (the posted speed limit) this means the officer claims to have observed me for 54 seconds before pulling me over. The road itself according to Google Maps is approximately 1km long between intersections (I was stopped according to Google Maps at around the 600m mark). So based on this I must have been observed following too closely since the intersection. There's one slight flaw in this case that this road is on a hill and there is really only 200m-300m visibility from my direction from where she was standing.
Had I not been offered the deal I was I have a feeling this could have struck pretty reasonable doubt into the officer's ability to estimate distance (overestimating by 2 to 3 times on such a large scale ).
Most driver ed courses are held on weekends, and consist of 4 in-class lessons (25 hours altogether) and 10 driving lessons, which you can schedule with the instructor according to your schedule. I took one. Helps insurance rates... A quick question: how old are you? If you are a younger driver (<25), your insurance might actually decrease.
Most driver ed courses are held on weekends, and consist of 4 in-class lessons (25 hours altogether) and 10 driving lessons, which you can schedule with the instructor according to your schedule. I took one. Helps insurance rates...
A quick question: how old are you? If you are a younger driver (<25), your insurance might actually decrease.
"The more laws, the less justice" - Marcus Tullius Cicero
"The hardest thing to explain is the obvious"
From looking online I believe there is a distinction between the "typical" driver's education programs and the one I would be taking. I found some programs offered by Young Drivers of Canada Driving School specifically for people who have been referred by the MTO because of traffic violations, which is what I assume I would be enrolling in. The course itself appears to be much lighter than the usual driver's ed (which I have already taken) and appears to only include 2 sessions from 9-1:30 that I should easily be able to work into my schedule.
racer wrote:
Most driver ed courses are held on weekends, and consist of 4 in-class lessons (25 hours altogether) and 10 driving lessons, which you can schedule with the instructor according to your schedule. I took one. Helps insurance rates...
A quick question: how old are you? If you are a younger driver (<25), your insurance might actually decrease.
From looking online I believe there is a distinction between the "typical" driver's education programs and the one I would be taking. I found some programs offered by Young Drivers of Canada Driving School specifically for people who have been referred by the MTO because of traffic violations, which is what I assume I would be enrolling in. The course itself appears to be much lighter than the usual driver's ed (which I have already taken) and appears to only include 2 sessions from 9-1:30 that I should easily be able to work into my schedule.
Hmmm, very interesting, they referred you to Young Drivers. Those are the most expensive driver's ed courses I saw when I was looking for one. I ended up paying $500, when YD wanted $800 (for the dubious privilege of driving in a Toyota Camry instead of Chevy Cobalt, I think)
Hmmm, very interesting, they referred you to Young Drivers. Those are the most expensive driver's ed courses I saw when I was looking for one. I ended up paying $500, when YD wanted $800 (for the dubious privilege of driving in a Toyota Camry instead of Chevy Cobalt, I think)
"The more laws, the less justice" - Marcus Tullius Cicero
"The hardest thing to explain is the obvious"
Okay so I went this afternoon and got all the details. My assumptions were wrong that they would be sending me to young drivers (which would have cost $330), they are actually asking me to go to a specialized driver's course that specializes in skid control and accident avoidance. The total price to me should be around $400. Also as this seems to be a more specialized/valuable program in my eyes I believe it will be worth the extra money. In the end $400 to potentially make me a better driver + a squeaky clean driving record again seems worth it and to answer the earlier question I am still a young driver (<25).
Okay so I went this afternoon and got all the details. My assumptions were wrong that they would be sending me to young drivers (which would have cost $330), they are actually asking me to go to a specialized driver's course that specializes in skid control and accident avoidance. The total price to me should be around $400. Also as this seems to be a more specialized/valuable program in my eyes I believe it will be worth the extra money. In the end $400 to potentially make me a better driver + a squeaky clean driving record again seems worth it and to answer the earlier question I am still a young driver (<25).
Hmm... insurance rates will probably go down due to specialized training, your record is unblemished, they withdrew the charge, and the $400 cost on this would've been less overall than the insurance increase + ticket if you'd been convicted. I'd say you did really well with this one.
Plenderzoosh wrote:
they are actually asking me to go to a specialized driver's course that specializes in skid control and accident avoidance.
Hmm... insurance rates will probably go down due to specialized training, your record is unblemished, they withdrew the charge, and the $400 cost on this would've been less overall than the insurance increase + ticket if you'd been convicted. I'd say you did really well with this one.
Hmm... insurance rates will probably go down due to specialized training, your record is unblemished, they withdrew the charge, and the $400 cost on this would've been less overall than the insurance increase + ticket if you'd been convicted. I'd say you did really well with this one. I haven't heard of insurance rates dropping for skid control schools. It makes sense but....... I have been wrong in the past though....
Radar Identified wrote:
Plenderzoosh wrote:
they are actually asking me to go to a specialized driver's course that specializes in skid control and accident avoidance.
Hmm... insurance rates will probably go down due to specialized training, your record is unblemished, they withdrew the charge, and the $400 cost on this would've been less overall than the insurance increase + ticket if you'd been convicted. I'd say you did really well with this one.
I haven't heard of insurance rates dropping for skid control schools. It makes sense but....... I have been wrong in the past though....
http://www.OHTA.ca OR http://www.OntarioTrafficAct.com
Well I did my course just yesterday and I have to say it was well worth the $395. I'd say I probably learnt a lot more useful things in that one day that I did in my numerous days of standard drivers education. I'm going to try sending off the certificate to my insurance company and we'll see if they do anything for me.
Well I did my course just yesterday and I have to say it was well worth the $395. I'd say I probably learnt a lot more useful things in that one day that I did in my numerous days of standard drivers education. I'm going to try sending off the certificate to my insurance company and we'll see if they do anything for me.
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