Ontario Traffic Defense
Failing to stop at a red light or stop sign carries three demerit points and a conviction your insurer will read at every renewal for three years. But not every red light ticket is the same. A camera ticket carries no points at all. Know which one you are holding before you pay it.
The first thing to establish is who issued the ticket, because the consequences are completely different.
| Officer issued ticket | Red light camera ticket | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is charged | You, the driver | The vehicle's registered owner |
| Demerit points | 3 points | None |
| On your driving record | Yes: 3 years | No |
| Insurance impact | Yes, treated as a moving violation | Generally none |
| Fine | $260 to $500 (set fine plus surcharge) | $325 set fine |
A conviction for failing to stop at a red light (HTA s. 144(18)) or a stop sign (s. 136) adds:
Figures above are general guidance, not a quote for your matter. Set fines, surcharges and court costs vary, and the amounts change over time.
Several of these turn on the officer's vantage point and their judgment of timing, which is exactly what a defense tests.
No outcome is ever promised, every case turns on its own facts, but paying an officer issued ticket without a review forecloses all of these options.
For an officer issued ticket: three demerit points, a fine of roughly $260 to $500 with surcharges, a conviction on your record for three years, and higher insurance premiums. A red light camera ticket is different. A $325 fine to the vehicle's owner, with no demerit points and nothing on your driving record.
Yes, and an officer issued ticket is usually worth it. The officer's vantage point, signage, road conditions and any available footage can all be examined, and where appropriate the matter may be resolved as a lesser, nonmoving offense. A camera ticket is different: with no points or record at stake, disputing it is rarely worth the effort. Results depend on the facts; no outcome is guaranteed.
An officer issued conviction can. It is treated as a moving violation, and for many drivers it is the first conviction that takes them off a clean record rate, for up to three years. A red light camera ticket generally does not affect insurance, because it is issued to the vehicle rather than the driver and carries no points. Avoiding the conviction, or reducing it to a nonmoving offense, is the way to protect your rate.
Don't pay it yet
Camera or officer: it takes a minute to tell, and the answer decides whether it is worth defending. A free 15 minute review tells you exactly where you stand.
