14 / 14 · Provincial Offences Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.33
Provincial Offences (POA)
Provincial offences are not criminal charges, but they can cost thousands in fines, demerit points, a suspended licence, and years of higher insurance. Our dedicated POA team handles these cases from the first notice to trial.
- Speeding and traffic tickets
- Careless driving
- Stunt driving
- Driving while suspended
- Driving without insurance
- Trespass, liquor and by-law charges
What is at stake
Why this charge needs a real defence.
Careless driving carries a fine of up to $2,000, six demerit points, and a possible licence suspension of up to two years. Stunt driving carries a fine of up to $10,000 and a suspension of at least one year on a first conviction, and driving without insurance has a minimum fine of $5,000. Convictions stay on your driving record for years, can raise insurance premiums sharply, and can cost a commercial driver their job.
How it is done
How we build your defence.
- 1
Act before the deadline
A ticket sets a short deadline: in most cases you have 15 days to choose an option, and missing it can mean a conviction without a hearing. We file for a trial and request disclosure right away.
- 2
Get the evidence
We request the officer's notes, any radar or laser records, and video, and check every detail against what the charge alleges.
- 3
Negotiate with the prosecutor
Many POA cases resolve with the prosecutor through a reduced charge, fewer demerit points, or a lower fine. We aim for the result that best protects your licence and insurance.
- 4
Go to trial when it should
Where the evidence is weak or the charge is wrong, we take the case to trial. Unreasonable delay can also lead to the charge being stayed.
What we look for
The issues that decide these cases.
- 01
The officer's evidence
Most traffic cases depend on the officer's notes and memory. Gaps, errors, and inconsistencies matter.
- 02
Radar and laser
Speed-measuring devices must be properly tested and operated, and the testing records can be challenged.
- 03
Due diligence
Many provincial offences allow a due diligence defence: if you took all reasonable care to avoid the offence, you can be acquitted.
- 04
Delay
The right to be tried within a reasonable time applies to provincial offences as well as criminal charges.
Possible outcomes
What a good result can look like.
- Charge withdrawn or dismissed
- Reduction to a lesser offence with fewer or no demerit points
- A lower fine or a shorter suspension
- Acquittal at trial
Every case turns on its own facts. These are examples of results that may be available, not a prediction or guarantee of the outcome in your matter.
Questions
What people ask us first.
No. Provincial offences are not crimes and do not create a criminal record. They can still mean heavy fines, demerit points, licence suspensions, and higher insurance premiums.
Usually not in person. A representative can appear for you on most provincial offence matters, and many provincial offences courts hold appearances by Zoom.
You may still have options, including asking the court to reopen the case. Those requests have short time limits of their own, so call us as soon as possible.
Next step
Talk to us about your provincial offences (poa) matter.
A short conversation now can prevent mistakes that are hard to undo later. What you tell us is confidential.
