I recently got a ticket for failing to stop for a school bus. It happened on a 2-lane countryside road. I was heading south and the bus was going north. I didn't see the flashing light, and I didn't see the stop sign arm come out either. I was going about 55 - 60 km/h at the time in an 80 km/h zone, so no speeding was involved. Apparently there was a patrol car right behind me and the officer saw me do it and pulled me over within minutes. I had four passengers in the car who also said that they didn't see the bus and its lights/stop sign but it's my word against the police officer's so it probably doesn't help. I only have a G2 license because I'm from Europe and moved to Canada a couple years ago. They didn't let me exchange my EU license to a full Ontario license even though Canada is supposed to have signed a convention with all EU countries. I have had a completely clean driving record in Europe for 15 years and a clean record in Canada, too, ever since I got my G2 a bit over 2 years ago. I understand the seriousness of the incident and recognize that it's extremely important to stop for school buses when they are stopping. But the officer gave me a $490 ticket and 6 demerit points. It's not the money so much but the points that I'm concerned about. I don't want this to ruin my driving record and I don't want to get my license, which was so difficult to get in the first place, to be suspended because of this. It was my mistake, but no one got hurt and there was nothing else I did wrong - I wasn't speeding etc. So I want to fight this and have contacted a paralegal. Has anybody here had a similar case? What do you think are my chances? Also, I'm going to be moving out of Canada for a year very soon and wonder if I hire a person to represent me in court, do I still need to appear there myself or can the person representing me handle it completely without me? Thanks for your help and advice!
I recently got a ticket for failing to stop for a school bus. It happened on a 2-lane countryside road. I was heading south and the bus was going north. I didn't see the flashing light, and I didn't see the stop sign arm come out either. I was going about 55 - 60 km/h at the time in an 80 km/h zone, so no speeding was involved.
Apparently there was a patrol car right behind me and the officer saw me do it and pulled me over within minutes. I had four passengers in the car who also said that they didn't see the bus and its lights/stop sign but it's my word against the police officer's so it probably doesn't help.
I only have a G2 license because I'm from Europe and moved to Canada a couple years ago. They didn't let me exchange my EU license to a full Ontario license even though Canada is supposed to have signed a convention with all EU countries. I have had a completely clean driving record in Europe for 15 years and a clean record in Canada, too, ever since I got my G2 a bit over 2 years ago.
I understand the seriousness of the incident and recognize that it's extremely important to stop for school buses when they are stopping. But the officer gave me a $490 ticket and 6 demerit points. It's not the money so much but the points that I'm concerned about. I don't want this to ruin my driving record and I don't want to get my license, which was so difficult to get in the first place, to be suspended because of this. It was my mistake, but no one got hurt and there was nothing else I did wrong - I wasn't speeding etc. So I want to fight this and have contacted a paralegal.
Has anybody here had a similar case? What do you think are my chances? Also, I'm going to be moving out of Canada for a year very soon and wonder if I hire a person to represent me in court, do I still need to appear there myself or can the person representing me handle it completely without me?
You don't have to be there at all if you hire a paralegal. Your chances...depends on the evidence the officer is going to present. If he is going to say that the arm was out and the light was flashing...probably not good.
You don't have to be there at all if you hire a paralegal. Your chances...depends on the evidence the officer is going to present. If he is going to say that the arm was out and the light was flashing...probably not good.
With respect to Simon Borys, if you do not go to court or no evidence for your defence is provided at trial, chances are YOU WILL BE CONVICTED. The police officer is but just one witness and most likely, the bus driver will give evidence and I have not a single doubt their evidence will be that you failed to comply with s. 175(11) of the HTA. I believe that your presence or lack of it, will affect the perception of the court. Do all justices of the peace understand R. v. W.(D.)? If you or your witnesses do not plan to attend at your trial, it would be useless to hire a representative. Your chances of prevailing depend on many factors, one of which and perhaps the most important, the quality of you defence, that is if you are properly represented by an experienced paralegal/solicitor litigator. Review s. 175 carefully and particularly sub-section (11). Get disclosure and review it with an experienced paralegal/solicitor. You will have to prove that the bus driver did not comply with the HTA or that the bus' lights and/or stop sign were not visible, rather than you did not see them Cheers.
if I hire a person to represent me in court, do I still need to appear there myself or can the person representing me handle it completely without me?
You don't have to be there at all if you hire a paralegal. Your chances...depends on the evidence the officer is going to present. If he is going to say that the arm was out and the light was flashing...probably not good.
With respect to Simon Borys, if you do not go to court or no evidence for your defence is provided at trial, chances are YOU WILL BE CONVICTED. The police officer is but just one witness and most likely, the bus driver will give evidence and I have not a single doubt their evidence will be that you failed to comply with s. 175(11) of the HTA. I believe that your presence or lack of it, will affect the perception of the court. Do all justices of the peace understand R. v. W.(D.)?
If you or your witnesses do not plan to attend at your trial, it would be useless to hire a representative.
Your chances of prevailing depend on many factors, one of which and perhaps the most important, the quality of you defence, that is if you are properly represented by an experienced paralegal/solicitor litigator.
Review s. 175 carefully and particularly sub-section (11). Get disclosure and review it with an experienced paralegal/solicitor.
You will have to prove that the bus driver did not comply with the HTA or that the bus' lights and/or stop sign were not visible, rather than you did not see them
Not at all. The purpose of hiring a licenced representative to take the issue to trial is to ensure that the crown can prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, not to "get the person off". The representative can ensure the crown does this with or without the defendant present. The defendant may want to appear to give evidence in their defence, but I wouldn't say this is a prerequisite to hiring a representative.
Biron wrote:
If you or your witnesses do not plan to attend at your trial, it would be useless to hire a representative.
Not at all. The purpose of hiring a licenced representative to take the issue to trial is to ensure that the crown can prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, not to "get the person off". The representative can ensure the crown does this with or without the defendant present.
The defendant may want to appear to give evidence in their defence, but I wouldn't say this is a prerequisite to hiring a representative.
I followed the procedures mentioned in the previous threads regarding the disclosure and received it today. My court date is November 5 2009 in Whitby. After going through the notes I realized 2 things:
1- the notes are horribly illegible and difficult to read
2- I have notes from two different officers.
Now I am not sure if this means that both the officers will be at court for the hearing or…
I hope I can paint the picture with the accuracy that the truth deserves. I have no intention of just beating a ticket.. but more like beating a really unfair ticket. You decide!
I had entered Canada after a short trip downsouth through Detroit on my way to Toronto. Not being equipped with a GPS unit I had to rely on the printable poorman's version from Mapquest. I followed Huron Church Rd.,…
Need an expert advice here. 10 days ago I got a speeding ticket. Ticket has a fatal error on its face-offense not known to law. It says speeding 75km/hr in posted 60km/hr zone. What is the best way to proceed?
1. Should I completely ignore this ticket and let the JP to quash it?
2. Should I go with option 3 - request a trial and force the fatal error by not showing up at court?
My name is Brian. I am in my late 20s and live in Toronto. I do not own a car but half a dozen times a year I rent one with my Visa. (To get out of the city and go to a beach or ski for example.)
I have never drunk and drive but I face a problem and Im wondering if anyone can tell me what to do. Several months ago I was at a weekend party and had quit a bit to consume. When I stopped…
I was travelling east bound on ellesmere road and approached markham road attempting to make a right turn. All signal lights were red and cars traveling down markham road south were given the green arrow. I slowed down and attempted to make the right turn. I got ticketed by a cop who was parked in a gas station facing the intersection in a (no parking zone). I…
Crested a hill, officer coming at me, pulled a u turn and pulled me over.
I will go back and look again but I thought I was in an 80 not a 70 and I am positive I wasn't doing more than 120. My speedo read 110-115. I have aftermarket tires and rims so I assume this would be the difference.
It was around 7pm, already dark, nobody on the road but myself,…
I am looking for the case law that is commonly used when the prosecution says they only need to disclose the testing pages of a radar manual or laser manual.
I am only interested in the binding decisions (appeals court or higher?), and not in the non-binding Justice of the Peace decisions.
I was pulled over two nights ago and charged with failing to stop a stop sign. On the ticket, it says 'disobey stop sign - foil to stop' and does not say 'fail' -- something I think may be a fatal flaw? I have been driving for 12 years with no tickets, yet I live in Brampton where insurance prices are high so I do not want to be convicted as my insurance rates will spike significantly and…
A friend of mine (who is from China and with no knowledge of English at all) asked me to interpret for him on court.
He got pulled over by a stealth patrol car last october, got 3 tickets (fail to show insurance card, using cell phones and fail to stop on right for emergency vehicle) , court date is next week. He told me his insurance expired for less than a month and other charges are false…
I understand the severity of my offences, and I can't stress how much I regret it. I know I endangered the lives of myself and more importantly others. I usually do not speed and I know running late for work is an unacceptable excuse. I will be a man and accept the consequences of my actions although I would appreciate any advice for my situation.
Guys back in january i got a speeding ticket on dvp, but i am 90% sure he did not caught me on radar, i asked for disclosure request and i just received today, I have asked for: a full copy of the police officers notes, a copy of both sides of the officers copy of the ticket, witness will say statements, speed gun manual, calibration record, repair history and officer's training certificate but…
I need some help here. So today I was on my way to get my tires changed from my winter tires to my regular summer staggered set of tires. I was driving in mississauga on my way to my destination, I got pulled over by an officer where I was given a ticket for having improper mudguards. For some context, I drive a stock 2013 C63 AMG with winter tires at the time. I was never…
I'd like to start this off by saying for the last two weeks I have been browsing the forums. I'm trying to prepare myself for an early resolution meeting with a prosecutor (in Brampton, if that matters). I have a clean record and as a teacher, I always do my best to follow rules (trying to practice what I preach!)
On December 4, 2014 I was preparing to turn right at a very busy intersection.…
I have question, today I was going to work in my normal route there is a triangle intersection with my side being the only one with a stop sign.
There's a car in front me who stopped at the stop sign, and the third-side there's a incoming car with their hazard-light flashing but they don't have stop sign, yet coming in at a slow speed.
Right after the car in front me went through the stop sign,…
On my way to work this morning I received a ticket for disobey sign. I was on Hwy 10 Mississauga in the right lane. The right lane leads to the 401 and there is a sign saying Right Lane Exits. I Tried to merge left before the on ramp as did 3 other people. We all got a ticket for doing that. Is there anything I can do? I did not realize I was breaking any law it was a dotted line where I tried to…
This is my first post, before I jump right in I would like to thank the forum, members, posters and moderators for all the information posted. I feel like I have been able to learn a lot from others experiences, so thank you all.
This will be a lengthy post. But if you are dealing with a Disobey Sign HTA 182(2) - No Straight Through Intersection you may find this extremely…
Let me start this with saying that this isn't in regards to a ticket, more a discussion surrounding front license plates and learning about the rules behind them. (Most of the quote stuff is using colloquial terms, mostly because I couldn't really find a better way to describe it; it's not meant to be offensive.)
I know Ontario law/HTA mandates having a front license plate unlike some States in…
Hi Guys! I've just had my trial day yesterday. I was not at fault but was convicted anyways.
It is such a travesty! There is no justice at the traffic court. It is just a no mercy machine to part someone with his money, no common sense applies and no reasonable argument being considered. Such a shame! The justice, the policeman and the prosecutor ganged up against me. The justice kept interrupting…
Well first of all ... glad to have found the forum - hoping to find answers to 'alot' of questions
I was unfortunate in July 2010 in that I ended up rolling my 2009 Ranger three times, through a fence and landing on the roof on a rained-out road that was/is in need of proper repair in Eastern Ontario.
I was assisted out of the vehicle by the driver who was behind me.
I was traveling down the 401, noticed a speed trap, and started flashing my lights -- in order to warn oncoming drivers.
Within a 30 seconds, a car slowed, crossed the grass, and approached me from behind. Lights appeared, and I then realised that this was an officer in an undercover car.
The officer pulled me over, and while he was polite, clearly his motivation was to…
Does anyone know the specific law, statute, Charter right to refer to when a prosecutor or justice attempts to change the charge on a ticket after a trial has begun? I assume I'd object immediately (without interrupting anyone, of course) but what would be the specific legal basis of my objection?
I was right behind a school bus that looked like it was pulling over to the side in order to turn down a side street, I saw no lights so decided to go around (wide street). Was still moving as I was passing, then as I did pass I heard horn and looked back and in fact it was pulling over to p/u school kids (was a block away from my son's school, so just assumed it wouldn't be picking up kids...it…
