How to fight a traffic ticket in Ontario
By Misbah Shajjan, Licensed Paralegal. Updated November 1, 2026.
In Ontario you have 15 days from the date on a traffic ticket to pay it (pleading guilty), request an early resolution meeting, or request a trial. Requesting a trial lets you see the prosecution’s evidence and often leads to a reduced charge with fewer demerit points.
Your three options
- Pay the fine: this is a guilty plea. Points and insurance consequences follow.
- Early resolution: meet the prosecutor to discuss a lesser charge. You give up the chance to test the evidence at trial.
- Request a trial: you or your paralegal get disclosure and can negotiate or go to trial.
Demerit points for speeding
- 1 to 15 km/h over: 0 points
- 16 to 29 km/h over: 3 points
- 30 to 49 km/h over: 4 points
- 50 km/h or more over: 6 points, and may be charged as stunt driving
Why fight it
Insurers look at convictions, not tickets. A single minor conviction can raise premiums for three years. Reducing the speed or the charge can mean zero points and no conviction an insurer treats as major.
How a paralegal helps
We file the trial request, obtain the officer’s notes and device records, look for errors and gaps, negotiate with the prosecutor, and appear in court for you on most Part I tickets. Our fee for a standard ticket is $300 plus HST.
Questions
Will my insurance go up if I fight and lose?
The result is the same as paying: a conviction. Fighting gives you a chance at a better result that paying never does.
Can a ticket be thrown out for a mistake on it?
Some errors can be fixed by the court, others can be fatal to the charge. It depends on the error, so have it reviewed.
Need help with this? See our Traffic Tickets and Provincial Offences service.
This guide is general information, not legal advice about your situation.