NPTT Legal Services

Driving While Under Suspension

If any of the following situations apply to you, you may be driving with a suspended licence:
• Unpaid Traffic Violation Fines
• Failure to Respond to a Conviction Notice in the Mail by its due date
• Notice of Suspension received in the mail
• Failure to attend a Driver's Interview set up by the Ministry of Transportation
• 15 Demerits Points or more on your Driving record

Driving Under Suspension Ontario & The Law

HTA 53(1)
Every person who drives a motor vehicle or street car on a highway while his or her driver's licence is suspended under an Act of the Legislature or a regulation made there under is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable

The Penalty in Ontario
• 1st offence, to a fine of $1000 to $5000
• 2nd & each subsequent offence, to a fine of $2000 to $5000
or
• Imprisonment for not more than 6 months
or both
• Additional Suspension for 6 months

Ontario Drivers should also know that if you are caught driving while you are currently under suspension, the stakes go up. Not only can you go to jail, there are heavy fines payable on conviction.

Driving Under Suspension Penalty in Ontario
• 1st offence, to a fine of $5,000 to $25,000
• Each subsequent offence, a fine of $10,000 to $50,000 or Imprisonment for a term of not more than 6 months or both

Not knowing that your licence has been suspended is not a defence to the charge of Driving while under suspension. Driving while under suspension is a strict liability but our paralegal can help you get your suspended license back.