Tickets and Fines - Disputing Tickets, Monitoring Court Dates and Making Fine Payments

Question: How can I check the status of my traffic ticket or provincial offence in Ontario online?

Answer: To check the status of your traffic ticket or provincial offence in Ontario, visit the [Ontario government's online service](https://www.ontario.ca/page/check-status-traffic-tickets-and-fines-online-or-request-meeting-resolve-your-case). You will need your offence number or the defendant's name to access the case details. This service informs you about outstanding fines and next steps for resolution. For personalized assistance in navigating this process, contact DefendCharges.ca for a free consultation and ensure your rights are protected.

In Ontario, receiving a traffic ticket or being charged with a provincial offence can be a stressful and unfamiliar experience. However, the Province of Ontario offers services online that allow you to monitor the status of your case and to make fine payments at the appropriate time. This article explains how to utilize these services to ensure your obligations are met in a timely and efficient manner. Traffic tickets are typically issued for violations of traffic laws such as speeding or failing to stop at a red light. Provincial offences encompass a broader range of non-criminal actions that contravene laws set out by the province of Ontario, such as food premise regulations or municipal by-law infractions.

Once you have received a traffic ticket or have been charged with a provincial offence, it’s essential to understand the next steps and deadlines that you have to meet. The province of Ontario provides an online service that allows you to check the status of your case, request a meeting to resolve your case, or pay your fine. To check the status of your traffic ticket or provincial offence online, simply go to https://www.ontario.ca/page/check-status-traffic-tickets-and-fines-online-or-request-meeting-resolve-your-case. You will need to provide certain information to access your case, such as your offence number or the defendant's name. Once filled in, this service will provide you with information about your case, including any outstanding fines and the next steps for resolution. It's important to note that it may take up to 10 days from the date of your offence for your information to appear on the website. If you cannot find your information after 10 days, the province recommends contacting the court office which issued your ticket or charge.

You also have the option of requesting a meeting with a prosecutor to discuss possible resolutions to your case. This could include pleading guilty with an explanation to potentially lower the fine or avoid demerit points on your licence. It is important to note that a reduction in demerit points will not eliminate insurance consequences and that the reduced or amended offence will likely have insurance consequences of its own. For example, negotiating an amendment to an offence of Speeding 29 km/hr over the posted limit to Speeding 15 km/hr over the posed limit will reduce the associated demerit points from three to zero but most insurance companies treat both rates of speed as a minor conviction. For this reason, self-represented defendants opt for "saving demerit points" without consideration of the impact of a conviction only to regret doing so upon renewal of their automobile insurance policy.  Once your matter has been resolved in court, if it results in a fine, you can make your payment online as well. Payments can be made through Visa, Mastercard, Interac Online, Visa Debit or Mastercard Debit. The online service will provide you with a receipt once your payment has been processed.

If your licence was suspended due to unpaid fines, it will be reinstated once your fine has been paid in full, although a reinstatement fee may apply. Keep in mind, if you miss the deadline to respond to a traffic ticket, you can be convicted in absence, which might result in a fine increase or a licence suspension. Similarly, non-payment of fines could result in a licence suspension. If you are concerned that your licence may be suspended, and to check the status of your driver's licence online, simply go https://www.dlc.rus.mto.gov.on.ca/dlc/.

In conclusion, the process of dealing with traffic tickets and provincial offences has been made easier through the Province of Ontario's online system. This convenient tool helps keep you informed about your case status, options for resolution, and payment options, ensuring you can resolve your matter in a timely and efficient manner.