All the Canadian provinces are under strict road regulations, including Ontario. So, you can be charged with driving offences for even the slightest careless driving move. The court can suspend your license and you’ll have to wait for months to get back on the road.
And if you have a thing for driving and can’t keep yourself from touching a steering wheel, it won’t be long before you will find yourself under a second conviction of driving under suspension. But this time, you’ll lose your license for 6 additional months, pay thousands of dollars in fine, and even do some jail time under section 53 of the Highway Traffic Act.
On top of that, unlike other minor offences, the record of you being under conviction for driving under suspension doesn’t go away after 3 years. It stays with you forever. So, you better be cautious while driving on Ontario’s roads to save yourself from the trouble. But if somehow you do end up with a driving under suspension offence on your back, follow these steps to fight for your license.
Step 1: Apply to get your driver’s licence privileges
If a police officer has identified you as someone whose license is under suspension, by scanning your license plate, it’s time to get to work. So, the first step is to stop driving immediately and contact the ministry of transportation in Ontario to reinstate your privileges as a driver.
This will help you plead your case “innocent” as you can argue that you did not know your license was suspended. You can say that you were under the impression that the ministry is working on your request.
Step 2: Hire an attorney
Next, it’s important to get a knowledgeable attorney by your side. Seek someone who knows in and out of driving under suspension offences and can help you get through this dilemma. The right paralegal will deal with court appearances on your behalf, so you don’t have to attend each one of them. He/she will also find ways to increase your negotiating power to lessen your penalties and settle matters on a lighter note.
Step 3: Develop your defence strategy
If you can’t find a capable attorney to defend your case, you need to get back on working your defence strategy for court appearances. Your strongest argument, once again, will be the fact that you’ve got your driver’s license reinstated and that you have paid off your monetary fine.
As you know, driving under suspension is a serious felony, the one that Ontario’s courts don’t easily let people get away with. So, you will need some papers to prove your point. Your doctor’s notes, the fine receipt, letter to the ministry of transportation, etc. will put you in a strong position in front of the court. And if it works out, your case will be finalized within 1 to 3 court visits.
Step 4: Seek a trial
Remember the summons issued by the police officer who identified you as a driver under suspension? You need to show up in the court, on the date written on that piece of paper, and tell the authorities you wish to seek a trial.
Step 5: Give your best at the trial
Get ready to give it your best shot on the day of your trial. You’ll see that same police officer as the main witness with some other witnesses of your case. Be prepared to swing some questions on them that can help you tell the court your side of the story. And make sure that story describes the events differently as to the one that the police officer is telling.
Ending Note
Many Canadian citizens find themselves convicted with the driving under suspension offence. If, by some bad luck, you end up being one of them, you’d have to go through a series of dreading court appearances. To make it out alive and free, you need to have both a solid amount of experience and excellent strategy right in your pocket. Chances are that you won’t have either one. So, it’s better to save your time and energy and get help from real professionals for driving under suspension Ontario services.
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