Hi there - so tonight I got a ticket for: Fail to Surrender Insurance card - i gave the officer my license, ownership and insurance. He went back to the vehicle and after 15 mins returned with a ticket for that. I explained to him that I do indeed have my valid insurance document I must have forgotten to put in my car or have it but can't find it in the car...he gave me the ticket anyways .. now here's what I dont understand: He kept my expired insurance document and I asked him why I can't have it back...he said because it's not valid its no good...and I explained to him that it is still my property and if I were to be pulled over again I would have no document to show the officer for insurance. He said no it's okay we know you have insurance so it's not a problem you don't need this one back.....

Can the officer do that? I immediately went home and found my valid insurance document and it is now in the car. I want to proceed with option 3 on the ticket and bring my valid insurance card with me on the trial date...how can i proceed with this and also was the officer in the wrong by keeping my insurance documents?

Thanks !

You could show your valid insurance but it doesn't mean it'll necessarily go away.

You were charged with not surrendering that particular valid document when prompted. You were not charged for driving without insurance.

If it's paired with another charge, it's a lot easier to have it dropped if you plead guilty to the other. If it's the only ticket you received, it's just not as easy. It doesn't hurt to try though.

Offence

(3) Every owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who,

(a) contravenes subsection (1) of this section or subsection 13 (11); or

(b) surrenders an insurance card for inspection to a police officer, when requested to do so, purporting to show that the motor vehicle is insured under a contract of automobile insurance when the motor vehicle is not so insured,

In my opinion, your best choice is to choose the early resolution option and show the prosecutor your insurance card and beg them to drop it. If they don't do it, ask for trial and request disclosure and go that route. It just gives you more opportunities to get this charge dropped.

This is a very simple charge for the prosecutor to get a conviction.

I also recommend reviewing the ticket and making sure there are no fatal errors: http://www.ontariohighwaytrafficact.com/topic1965.html