Today I received a $320 ticket for failing to stop at a red light. I was driving on the highway, the light turned yellow and I didn't slow down in time. I did slow down and come to a complete stop, I was partially in the intersection and couldn't back up due to other vehicles behind me so I carefully proceeded through as to not block traffic going through the lights; assuming the OPP officer caught this on his dash cam his video would reflect that I did come to a complete stop. Could this help my defense? And is it possible to use the defense of due diligence on a failure to stop at a red light? I had a clean driving record up until today. Clearly the slowing down and coming to a complete stop should prove that mens rea was not present and I didn't enter the intersection with the intention of going through the red light. How can I fight this ticket? Is it even worth fighting or should I just pay the $320 and be happy I didn't get charged the maximum $1000.
Here is the recent case about ticket errors: courts-and-procedure/cops-can-fix-small ... t7933.html In my opinion, an incorrect set fine amount would be considered minor and it is not prejudicial towards the defendant in preparing a full answer and defence to the charge. With the new case, the police officer can correct the set fine amount on the certificate of offence (his copy of the ticket) and still submit it validly to the courthouse. This means if you do not respond, you will be found guilty. Upon appeal, you will need to be able to argue how an incorrect set fine amount is prejudicial towards your ability to make a full answer and defence - this will be difficult.
In my opinion, an incorrect set fine amount would be considered minor and it is not prejudicial towards the defendant in preparing a full answer and defence to the charge.
With the new case, the police officer can correct the set fine amount on the certificate of offence (his copy of the ticket) and still submit it validly to the courthouse. This means if you do not respond, you will be found guilty. Upon appeal, you will need to be able to argue how an incorrect set fine amount is prejudicial towards your ability to make a full answer and defence - this will be difficult.
The best course of action in this case might be to file for a court date and request disclosure including a copy of the certificate of offence the officer submitted to the court. If the copy that was submitted to the court has the same error as your copy then you can skip your court date and force a default hearing. If the officer fixed the problem on the copy he submitted to the court then we can still go over the disclosure and look for another avenue of defence.
The best course of action in this case might be to file for a court date and request disclosure including a copy of the certificate of offence the officer submitted to the court. If the copy that was submitted to the court has the same error as your copy then you can skip your court date and force a default hearing. If the officer fixed the problem on the copy he submitted to the court then we can still go over the disclosure and look for another avenue of defence.
Jsherk I took your words to heart about asking for disclosure and i am attempting to use your template for asking for all the things you ask for. I went into court today in response to my Notice Of Constitutional Question and was stripped down by the judge saying to me, " You are using the Notice Of Constitutional Question wrong. It's a very complicated area and is used for questioning the law. What you want is to execute a Charter Challenge. But I can tell you now, you're probably not going to get what you're asking for. If you're still going to do a Charter Challenge, you're going to need case law. But, everything you're trying has been done before and I don't think you're going get anything special here." So, I guess I'm asking if you have any proof that your template for getting disclose has worked. I'm hopeful that what you have wrote down here is coming from a place of experience and not speculation. I'm getting the feeling that things like requesting Industry Canada certifications are just going to be laughed out of court. Can you instill some confidence in this process of defense? Thank you.
Jsherk
I took your words to heart about asking for disclosure and i am attempting to use your template for asking for all the things you ask for. I went into court today in response to my Notice Of Constitutional Question and was stripped down by the judge saying to me, " You are using the Notice Of Constitutional Question wrong. It's a very complicated area and is used for questioning the law. What you want is to execute a Charter Challenge. But I can tell you now, you're probably not going to get what you're asking for. If you're still going to do a Charter Challenge, you're going to need case law. But, everything you're trying has been done before and I don't think you're going get anything special here."
So, I guess I'm asking if you have any proof that your template for getting disclose has worked. I'm hopeful that what you have wrote down here is coming from a place of experience and not speculation. I'm getting the feeling that things like requesting Industry Canada certifications are just going to be laughed out of court.
Can you instill some confidence in this process of defense?
Jsherk I took your words to heart about asking for disclosure and i am attempting to use your template for asking for all the things you ask for. I went into court today in response to my Notice Of Constitutional Question and was stripped down by the judge saying to me, " You are using the Notice Of Constitutional Question wrong. It's a very complicated area and is used for questioning the law. What you want is to execute a Charter Challenge. But I can tell you now, you're probably not going to get what you're asking for. If you're still going to do a Charter Challenge, you're going to need case law. But, everything you're trying has been done before and I don't think you're going get anything special here." So, I guess I'm asking if you have any proof that your template for getting disclose has worked. I'm hopeful that what you have wrote down here is coming from a place of experience and not speculation. I'm getting the feeling that things like requesting Industry Canada certifications are just going to be laughed out of court. Can you instill some confidence in this process of defense? Thank you.
Jsherk
I took your words to heart about asking for disclosure and i am attempting to use your template for asking for all the things you ask for. I went into court today in response to my Notice Of Constitutional Question and was stripped down by the judge saying to me, " You are using the Notice Of Constitutional Question wrong. It's a very complicated area and is used for questioning the law. What you want is to execute a Charter Challenge. But I can tell you now, you're probably not going to get what you're asking for. If you're still going to do a Charter Challenge, you're going to need case law. But, everything you're trying has been done before and I don't think you're going get anything special here."
So, I guess I'm asking if you have any proof that your template for getting disclose has worked. I'm hopeful that what you have wrote down here is coming from a place of experience and not speculation. I'm getting the feeling that things like requesting Industry Canada certifications are just going to be laughed out of court.
Can you instill some confidence in this process of defense?
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