Failure to Stop at Red Light ticket- info

[hi-tech]

I was exiting the 403 WB via the ramp on to Winston Churchill yesterday, and did not completely stop at the red light in order to turn right. An OPP officer saw me and pulled me over, issued me a 144 (18) Failure to Stop at a Red Light ticket with a fine of $180 and 3 demerit points.

My question, what is my course of action?

I've called a number of traffic lawyers/paralegals who are all charging around $250~$280 and say that its relatively easy to reduce the demerit points to zero and have the fine reduced to $100. Is it worth it though? My record is pretty volatile as I'm only 23 and have 1 at-fault accident under my record already. Would 3 demerit points substantially increase my insurance rates?

Another option is to pay it and accept guilt...which I don't plan on doing.

Finally, I could just fight the ticket my self, but I doubt the court would believe my word over the OPP's and on top that, hoping that they won't show in court for something like this seems pretty unlikely. Maybe I could plead with the court that I'm a student and can't be burdened with this kind of financial strain.

Which do you think would be the most sensible option?

[thelefteyeguy]

doh...another one...have you tried searching the forum first?

btw...for insurance purposes...you want to throw the charges out (a reduction isnt going to help you for the next 3 years)

[myapple]

I was exiting the 403 WB via the ramp on to Winston Churchill yesterday, and did not completely stop at the red light in order to turn right. An OPP officer saw me and pulled me over, issued me a 144 (18) Failure to Stop at a Red Light ticket with a fine of $180 and 3 demerit points.

My question, what is my course of action?

I've called a number of traffic lawyers/paralegals who are all charging around $250~$280 and say that its relatively easy to reduce the demerit points to zero and have the fine reduced to $100. Is it worth it though? My record is pretty volatile as I'm only 23 and have 1 at-fault accident under my record already. Would 3 demerit points substantially increase my insurance rates?

Another option is to pay it and accept guilt...which I don't plan on doing.

Finally, I could just fight the ticket my self, but I doubt the court would believe my word over the OPP's and on top that, hoping that they won't show in court for something like this seems pretty unlikely. Maybe I could plead with the court that I'm a student and can't be burdened with this kind of financial strain.

Which do you think would be the most sensible option?

Go file your intent to appear in court notice (aka challenge ticket). When the time comes (after 6+ months), go to court a bit earlier and speak with the prosecutor BEFORE the trial time. You can ask if the officer is present. If they do not show up, plead not guilty and the charge will be dropped. If the office is present, the prosecutor will offer you the chance to plead guilty to a lesser charge. You can do this all yourself. You do NOT need to pay any paralegal/lawyer hundreds of dollars to do this for you.

[tyfriend]

1. File for a court date.
2. File for disclosure.
3. At least 10 days before, change the time of the court date.
4. Hope the witness does not show up. If he is present and you are unprepared ask the prosecutor to plead guilt to a lesser charge or a reduction of your demerit points.

[Narci]

keep this in mind...

insurance companies look at convictions. even if you reduce the demerit points to zero and lower the fine, your still guilty, therefore insurance companies will take that into account when reviewing your insurance rates.

whether insurance companies increase your rates depends if they review your file every year. every company is different and that's why you see some people say it will not effect and some will. i for one had experienced both sides. one year they reviewed and increase due to a traffic onviction, one year they didn't increase even though i had a traffic conviction.

[tjayl]

I was exiting the 403 WB via the ramp on to Winston Churchill yesterday, and did not completely stop at the red light in order to turn right. .....

I doubt the court would believe my word over the OPP's

They should take your word equally to the OPP since both of you would be saying that you didn't completly stop at the light. Unless you plan on lying in court.

[watungga]

Some cases, police do not appear in court, so then you have the probability on your side. Compare it to paying outright and accept the charge, you are like.. commiting suicide.

What was your slowest speed you made in turning right?

[mkerian]

They should take your word equally to the OPP since both of you would be saying that you didn't completly stop at the light. Unless you plan on lying in court.

+1 A rolling stop is not a complete stop. If you actually did not completely stop, than you would have to lie to beat the charge.

What was your slowest speed you made in turning right?

Why does that matter? Legally, turning right at a red requires you to come to a complete stop.

[glacierice]

You didn't stop and you got a ticket with a cop right there, what a surprise! My advice is stop at red lights idiot.

[phht]

........ Maybe I could plead with the court that I'm a student and can't be burdened with this kind of financial strain.

Which do you think would be the most sensible option?

That won't do you any good, it's suicidal. Learn how to deal with ticket from www.ticketcombat.com.
First and foremost choose option 3 to contest the charge, then ask for disclosure. That will lay all the ground work for any future action whether you decide to hire a paralegal or defend it yourself or plead guilty to a lesser charge.

[hi-tech]

You didn't stop and you got a ticket with a cop right there, what a surprise! My advice is stop at red lights idiot.

Easy there Mr. Righteous. It was 2 am and I was slowed down to 5 km/h and saw absolutely nothing in sight. Right turns don't need to be that complicated.

Anyways, another thing I wanted to know is that if its an OPP officer would it be more likely that he would not show in court? His accent was a Northern Ontario accent. Definitely not a GTA one.

[tokajim]

My record is pretty volatile as I'm only 23 and have 1 at-fault accident under my record already.

Another option is to pay it and accept guilt...which I don't plan on doing.

Of course you won't... I don't know, maybe it's time to drop the 'I know what to do for a right turn' shtick and just follow traffic rules. Your 'I'm a student so I can't afford the financial burden that my own actions have caused' defense is poor as well.

I'll just add you should definitely fight the ticket, if nothing else to get the fine/charge reduced.

[tcharged]

unbelievable. This just happened to me this morning. OP, did you get out of your ticket? Not sure the best way to proceed right now, definitely fighting it though. I have a clean driving record too.

[vero95]

why is that unbelievable? from my observations 99% of cars do not stop on red when turning right
did you stop?

[longitude]

Option (3), plead not guilty.

If English isn't your first language, then request an interpreter.

Delay as much as you can.

Thanks.