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

One of the biggest fears we get when speaking to potential clients is “will I get a criminal record if I get convicted of my Drive Suspend charge?”. The good news, is that the answer is “no”, but the bad news is that the penalties are very similar to criminal charges. This is referred to as “quasi-criminal”. This is defined by the Attorney General site of Ontario as: Quasi-Criminal Offence. A non-criminal offence that carries a penalty similar to that of a criminal offence, but that is subject to less complex court procedures than are criminal offences. For example traffic and workplace safety offences. What Does a "quasi-criminal" conviction mean for me? This means that, depending on the circumstances of your Drive Suspended charges, the prosecutor has the right to ask for harsh penalties like jail time or severe fines that sound a lot like criminal penalties. But, at the end of the day, they will not translate into a criminal record. Rather they are deterring penaltie...

A Driving Under Suspension charge in Ontario can be scary.  For most people, the thought of losing their drivers license for an additional 6 months could be devastating.   Think of the all the life tasks that are associated with driving? - Work - Family - Meetings - School Enough said?  Now, many clients get this charge and don't even know their license was suspended.  The main reason licenses get suspended are the following: - Failure to pay fines from any traffic tickets - Failure to pay child support (FRO) - Medical suspensions - Previous convictions of driving offences - Other various reasons What happens when I get to court? You can read my other articles on the court process, but to sum up, you will check in with the prosecutor.  Many people charged with Drive Under Suspension, try to tell their story, or their reasoning why their license was suspended, to the prosecutor.  However, the MINIMUM fine for this charge, is the $1,000 and 6-months...

Officer vs Prosecutor in Stunt Driving Cases: The Critical Distinction That Determines Your Fate The most dangerous misconception in stunt driving cases is believing that the friendly, professional officer who charged you has any influence over your case outcome—in reality, once the officer submits evidence, prosecutors hold complete control over plea negotiations, charge reductions, and case resolution, making self-representation a potentially catastrophic mistake. Legal representative Jon Cohen of Nextlaw, recognized as Ontario's premier stunt driving legal representative, has analyzed this critical power dynamic to help drivers understand why the officer's roadside demeanor is irrelevant to their case's ultimate resolution. With Ontario recording 13,843 stunt driving charges in 2024—a 146% increase since 2015—understanding who truly controls your case fate has become essential for avoiding devastating consequences. Through comprehensive analysis of prosecution procedur...

What is the fine for a No Insurance ticket in Ontario? - Fine of $5,000 to $25,000 for first No Insurance offence - Fine of $10,000 to $50,000 for a subsequent offence - Add a 25% court-imposed victim surcharge fee on top of any of the above fines - Your drivers license could be suspended for as long as one year - Your car could be impounded for up to three months, and you would be responsible for the storage fees - Possible damage to your future ability to get a valid insurance policy in Ontario This charge falls under the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act, or CAIA(2)(1).  This act governs drivers in Ontario to have a valid insurance policy on their vehicles. Why is the fine so high? The fine talks to the legal notion of "general" and "specific" deterrence.  The law written to punish offenders with a high enough fine that the "general" public will understand that if they don't get insured, they will pay a financial price in Provinc...

What Does a "No Insurance" Charge Mean in Ontario? In Ontario, driving without insurance is a serious offense. This is covered under the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act (CAIA), specifically in section 2. The law requires all drivers in Ontario to have a valid insurance policy. If you're found driving without one, you'll face a hefty fine starting at $5,000, plus an additional 25% court fee, totaling $6,250. Facing Court for a No Insurance Charge: What to Expect? When you're summoned to court for this charge, you'll first meet with the prosecutor. Many drivers try to explain their reasons for not having insurance, but it's important to know that the minimum fine is set at $5,000, and typically, the prosecutor can't reduce this amount. How to Contest a "No Insurance" Charge in Ontario? Step-by-Step Guide to Fighting a No Insurance Ticket - Immediate Action: As soon as you're charged, ensure you obtain a valid insurance poli...

After you have a stunt driving charge, you will want to start "interviewing" legal professionals for information and/or representation.  I have handled over 5,000 phone calls and have heard horror stories of consultations with other legal professionals.  Here are some tips that should necessitate an immediate end to the phone call. 1. "We win or it's free" or any other guarantee I always tell my potential clients, that if you spoke to another legal representative and they guaranteed you a result....HANG UP THE PHONE.  This is the biggest red flag when having a consultation.  First, there are Law Society rules against guarantees.  But that aside, there is logistical flaws.  The legal representative doesn't set the rules of the game - the prosecutor does.  The prosecutor makes the first play, and asks for a certain charge, or certain penalties.  Once the legal representative gets the disclosure (evidence) against you, and only then, can they establish a co...

The real question is not necessarily "how much" will my insurance increase with a stunt driving charge in Ontario.  The real question is "will I still get insured" with a stunt driving charge. The actual penalties listed under the Highway Traffic Act - Section 172 - Stunt or Racing - are penalties that may affect you in the short term.  These penalties include fines of $2,000 or more, possible jail time, demerit points and license suspension.  But the bigger problem is, even if you get the minimum fine of $2,000 and 6 demerit points, the real issue will start when your insurance comes up for renewal. Each insurance company has different rules and conditions for determining your insurance premiums.  However, in our experience, the chances of getting flat-out denied insurance due to a stunt driving charge, are incredibly high. How does denial of insurance affect my life? That's a question only you can answer.  But for most of our clients, the ability to dr...

You're nervous.  You've never been to court and have never had a serious traffic charge before.  All of a sudden, you are pulled over by the police, and issues a "summons" to court, where you have to appear in court on a specific day at a specific time.  You have no idea where or how to start looking for representation.  You start Googling for an individual or a firm to help or guide you through this process.  The good news, if you stumbled upon this article, I can outline some of the most important factors you need to consider when choosing a representative. Free Consultation You should be getting a free consultation on the phone (or in person) from any potential legal representative.  This gives you a chance to get a feel if this legal professional is a good fit for you.  Did they explain your charges to you?  Did they give you a quick overview of the courts?  Do they make you feel as though they "have your back".  Remember, it's your money.  You a...

Your car was impounded for 7 days.  You had to pay to get it back, and you got a Stunt Driving Charge compelling you to appear in an Ontario Provincial court about 6 weeks later.  So now what can you expect? The most important point to remember is "prepare".  You will need to prepare to make sure you make the best of your first court appearance, because, if this is your first time in Provincial Offences Court, you may be in for a bit of a surprise. Court appearances are usually set for a morning or afternoon - most commonly a 9:00am or a 1:30pm appearance.  If you have a 9am appearance, the first and most important thing to remember is get there early!  Always assume there will be hordes of other people with the same or similar type charges that are also set to appear at that exact same time of 9:00am.  This means you are in for a "first-come / first-serve" scenario.  The earlier you are, the better chance you have to sign in first. Granted, if you get their too...