So you’ve found yourself with a Traffic Ticket now what? Many people feel that if they just pay the ticket that is the easiest solution. However by just paying the ticket you re risking the chances of your insurance rates to increase. Most charges are defend-able or negotiable. We have the expertise to handle any traffic ticket or MTO charge. Any ticket can have an impact on your insurance rates and the smart money is on defending all of them.
The Break Down
A break down of how your insurance can be affected by a ticket can be seen on insurancehunter.ca. Please note they do not list every driving ticket. Insurance Hunters go on to explain that Insurers divide traffic infractions into three categories.
Minor
- Crowding vehicle with more people than seatbelts
- Defective brakes
- Driver’s license violations
- Driving with an insecure load
- Driving with open alcohol in vehicle
- Driving without an up-to-date inspection sticker
- Failing to share the road
- Failing to signal
- Failure to use seatbelts
- Failing to yield to another vehicle or pedestrian
- Failure to surrender your license to authority
- Failure to produce evidence of insurance to authority
- Failure to carry an insurance card
- Following too closely
- Headlight offences
- Improper driving in a bus lane
- Improper opening of door
- Improper passing, lane change or turn
- Improper railway crossing
- Improper towing
- Improper use of divided highway
- Obstruction of license plate
- Obstructing the view of other drivers
- Obstructing traffic
- Overloading
- Seatbelt infraction
- Speeding
- Stop sign or traffic light infraction
- Unnecessary noise
- Unnecessary slow driving
- Unsafe move
- Unsafe or prohibited turn
- Unsafe vehicle
- Use of radar warning device
- Wrong way on one way
Major
- All insurance offences
- Distracted driving
- False statement of insurance
- Failure to follow restrictions in a school zone or improper passing zone
- Failing to report an accident
- Failure to report damage to highway property
- Failure to stop for an emergency vehicle
- Failing to stop or improper passing at a school bus
- Producing false evidence of license or insurance
- Speeding in a construction zone
- Violation of license conditions (non-alcohol)
Criminal
- Careless or dangerous driving
- Criminal negligence
- Driving impaired (blood alcohol level over 0.08 in Ontario)
- Driving while under suspension
- Failing to obey police
- Failing to remain at an accident scene
- Motor manslaughter
- Operating a motor vehicle without insurance
- Racing
- Speeding 50 km over posted speed limit (or set limit in your province)
- Refusing a breathalyzer test
- Stunting/drag racing
- Violation of license conditions (alcohol-related)
How They Assess
If you are a fist time offender there is possibility that insurers will go easy on you. If you have been convicted before with minor offences insurers have a much higher chance of increasing rates. How it is depended on that particular insurer. An article in Forbes written in 2012 shared a list from Insurance.com regarding how your rates/ premiums could increase.
- Reckless driving: 22 percent
- DUI first offense: 19 percent
- Driving without a license or permit: 18 percent
- Careless driving: 16 percent
- Speeding 30 mph over the limit: 15 percent
- Failure to stop: 15 percent
- Improper turn: 14 percent
- Improper passing: 14 percent
- Following too close/tailgating: 13 percent
- Speeding 15 to 29 mph over limit: 12 percent
- Speeding 1 to 14 mph over limit: 11 percent
- Failure to yield: 9 percent
- No car insurance: 6 percent
- Seat belt infractions: 3 percent
How Long Does A Speeding Ticket Affect Insurance?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NOnOLwElLU
How We Help
How can The Traffic Lawyers help you? Firstly it is always a good idea to look into disputing any offence. Demerits or not, there is always the possibility of an impact to your insurance rates. We offer free initial consultations and are almost always able to successfully defend your driving charge. Call us at 1-877-733-2203 (toll free all Ontario) or send us an online request for a free traffic ticket case evaluation. We have a great team of experienced lawyers who are always ready to help and answer and questions and concerns.
