Nextlaw - Ontario's Stunt Driving, DUI & U.S. Waiver Law Firm

Speeding Ticket and PR Application: What Permanent Residence Applicants Need to Know If you're applying for Canadian permanent residence and have received a speeding ticket in Ontario, you might be worried about whether this affects your application. According to NextLaw's analysis, the clear answer is: no, speeding tickets do not affect permanent residence applications. However, understanding why helps you make informed decisions about your ticket. Speeding Is Not a Crime in Canada Jon Cohen, who has helped many permanent residence applicants understand their traffic situations, explains the fundamental distinction: speeding under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act is a provincial regulatory offense, not a criminal offense under the Criminal Code of Canada. When IRCC asks about criminal history on immigration applications, they're asking about Criminal Code offenses—things like theft, assault, impaired driving, or fraud. They're not asking about provincial traff...

Speeding Ticket on a Work Permit: What You Need to Know in Ontario If you're in Canada on a work permit and have received a speeding ticket in Ontario, your first concern might be whether this affects your immigration status. According to NextLaw's analysis, the good news is clear: speeding tickets are provincial matters that do not affect your work permit or immigration status. However, there are still good reasons to take your ticket seriously. Speeding Tickets Don't Affect Immigration Jon Cohen, who has helped many work permit holders understand their traffic ticket situations, is clear on this point: speeding under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act is a provincial offense, not a criminal offense. Immigration and Refugee Protection Canada (IRCC) is concerned with criminal matters, not provincial traffic violations. When you apply for work permit renewals or changes in immigration status, you're asked about criminal history—not traffic tickets. Your speeding t...

Speeding Tickets for Gig Economy Drivers: What Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and Delivery Drivers Need to Know If you drive for any gig economy platform in Ontario—whether rideshare, food delivery, or package delivery—a speeding ticket carries consequences beyond what typical drivers face. According to NextLaw's analysis, gig economy drivers have unique vulnerabilities that make protecting their driving records especially important. Why Gig Drivers Face Higher Stakes Jon Cohen, who has represented drivers across all major gig platforms, identifies the core issue: your driving record is your employment credential. Unlike traditional employees who might keep their jobs despite a traffic conviction, gig drivers can lose platform access—and their income—based on what appears on their driving abstract. The Platforms All Check Records Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Skip The Dishes, Instacart, Amazon Flex—all of them conduct background checks that include driving abstract reviews. Dan Joffe, tra...

Speeding Ticket as a Skip The Dishes Driver: Protecting Your Delivery Income If you deliver for Skip The Dishes in Ontario and have received a speeding ticket, you need to understand how this could affect your ability to continue working on the platform. According to NextLaw's analysis, delivery platforms including Skip check driving records—and convictions can put your account at risk. Skip The Dishes Driver Requirements Jon Cohen, who has represented many gig economy delivery drivers, explains that Skip The Dishes requires drivers to have valid licenses and acceptable driving records. Like other delivery platforms, Skip conducts background checks that include driving abstract reviews. While Skip doesn't publish exact deactivation criteria, the company reserves the right to review and potentially deactivate accounts based on driving record concerns. The Platform Reality for Delivery Drivers Dan Joffe, traffic lawyer at NextLaw, notes that delivery drivers sometimes...

Speeding Ticket as an Uber Eats Driver in Ontario: What Delivery Drivers Need to Know If you deliver for Uber Eats in Ontario and have received a speeding ticket, you might assume delivery drivers face fewer consequences than rideshare drivers. According to NextLaw's analysis, this assumption is wrong—Uber Eats applies the same driving record standards as the rideshare platform. Same Standards as Rideshare Jon Cohen, who has represented many gig economy drivers, clarifies that Uber Eats drivers are subject to the same background check requirements as Uber rideshare drivers. Both platforms are part of the same company and use the same driver verification systems. This means your driving abstract is reviewed during onboarding and periodically afterward. Convictions that would trigger review for a rideshare driver have the same effect for delivery drivers. Why Delivery Drivers Often Underestimate the Risk Dan Joffe, traffic lawyer at NextLaw, notes that delivery drivers so...

Speeding Ticket as a Lyft Driver in Ontario: Protecting Your Platform Access If you drive for Lyft in Ontario and have received a speeding ticket, you're facing concerns that go beyond the typical driver's situation. According to NextLaw's analysis, Lyft drivers—like all gig economy drivers—depend on maintaining a clean driving record to keep platform access and income flowing. Lyft's Driving Record Requirements Jon Cohen, who has represented many rideshare drivers, explains that Lyft conducts background checks including driving abstract reviews. These reviews happen at onboarding and periodically during your time as an active driver. Lyft's requirements specify that drivers must have acceptable driving records. While exact criteria aren't published, the company has indicated that major violations or patterns of minor violations can result in account review or deactivation. Annual Reviews Mean Ongoing Risk Dan Joffe, traffic lawyer at NextLaw, notes ...