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

Understanding Stunt Driving Speed Limit Changes and Legal Outcomes Caught for stunt driving due to sudden speed limit changes? You're not alone. It's a common issue that frustrates many drivers. Often, they lament about instances when the speed limit dropped abruptly, leading to a stunt driving charge. However, the complexities of speed limits and law enforcement may surprise you. This guide is designed to help you understand the significance of "stunt driving speed limit changes" and their impact on your legal situation. Navigating Rapid Speed Limit Changes Examples of rapid speed limit changes often include: - Exiting a highway with a speed limit of 100km/h, which abruptly drops to 60km/h - A sudden shift from a 70km zone to a 40km zone - Encountering a construction zone with a reduced speed limit - A downhill slope where the speed limit changes at the bottom Such scenarios are familiar to many and are among the frequent grievances we hear from c...

Understanding Stunt Driving Charges: Your Legal Guide Are you puzzled about why you've been singled out for a stunt driving charge when you were merely keeping pace with the traffic flow? You're not alone. Many of our clients express similar frustrations: - "Why did they pick me instead of the driver in front of me?" - "How can I be sure the radar was targeting my car and not someone else's?" - "But I'm a law-abiding citizen!" While these concerns seem rational, the reality is that the law doesn't pay much attention to the speeds of other cars. If you were clocked at a stunt driving speed, that's usually sufficient for conviction.   Stunt Driving: A Matter of Individual Responsibility When it comes to stunt driving, the legal focus is on your speed, not others. The fact that numerous other cars may have been moving at similar speeds doesn't negate your speed violation. Let's break it down. Legally, the p...

Why Stunt Driving Charges Are More Than Just a Police Officer's behaviour Have you been recently charged with Stunt Driving? Were you left with a bitter taste because of your interaction with the police officer? Many people feel the same way. But here's something crucial to understand: Your feelings about the police officer don't always play a role in your charge. Common Misunderstandings About Stunt Driving Charges Many individuals voice their concerns about their experiences: - Being left stranded by the police officer. - Not being shown the radar reading. - Facing rudeness or a lack of professionalism. - Brief arrests. - Numerous other grievances. However, the core issue in the eyes of the law isn't your personal interaction with the officer. If you were caught speeding at a level that's categorized as Stunt Driving, then typically that's enough for a conviction. Can the Officer's Behaviour Help My Case? In short, not really. Wh...

Can My Stunt Driving Charge Be Dropped if I Wasn't Shown the Radar? One of the most frequent questions we get about Stunt Driving charges is, "The officer never showed me the radar. Can I get my charge dropped?" People often think that if they weren't shown the radar reading, the charge must be invalid. If this thought has crossed your mind, keep reading. No, The Officer Doesn't Have to Show You the Radar Let's clear up a common misconception: the police officer doesn't have to show you the stunt driving radar reading at the time of the charge. That's right, you won't get the opportunity to contest the speed you were supposedly going at that moment. Instead, the officer can rely on the radar evidence to charge you with Stunt Driving, which could lead to an immediate 7 or 30-day license suspension and even a 14-day vehicle impound. "I Can't Believe I Was Going That Fast!" — What to Do Next Getting charged at the roadside is u...

We often hear from responsible drivers who are puzzled and frightened by their recent encounter with the law. "I'm a law-abiding citizen", they claim. "The only reason I was speeding was that I was dealing with an emergency." This emergency could have involved them personally or someone they care about. But what they don't realize is that their good intentions might not absolve them of Stunt Driving charges in Ontario. Is an Emergency a Valid Reason to Overcome Stunt Driving Charges? Stunt driving is treated very seriously by law enforcement. If your vehicle's speed is detected within the 'Stunt Driving' range by a radar, you could be convicted, irrespective of your reasons. Legal authorities typically do not consider the circumstances leading to your high-speed driving. Only in very exceptional situations, where you can present concrete evidence supporting your claim of emergency, you might stand a chance. This could be a letter from a doc...

Understanding "Stunt Driving" Charges While Overtaking Cars It's a situation many drivers find themselves in - travelling at the speed limit, and they decide to pass a slower vehicle and suddenly find themselves being charged by the police for stunt driving. Such cases often have clients frustrated and professing their innocence, explaining that they were merely passing another car when they were clocked by radar equipment. However, arguing such circumstances usually falls on deaf ears when it comes to the law. Even if you were in the process of overtaking, if the radar identifies your speed as being associated with stunt driving, that evidence is generally enough to find you guilty. Does a Stunt Driving Charge Automatically Lead to a 1-3 Year License Suspension? Definitely not! Being charged with stunt driving doesn't necessarily result in a conviction. Remember, the charge simply marks the beginning of the legal process. It can be distressing, given it often ent...

As per thew new MOMS (Moving Ontarian's More Safely) Act, you've just finished your 14-day roadside impoundment and your 30-day license suspension after being charged with Stunt Driving or Racing in Ontario under section 172(1) of the Highway Traffic Act.  You have a court date between 2-4 months in the future.  So what now?  Let's take a closer look... Your first court date is called a “First Appearance”. This is the first time you will appear before the court for your Stunt Driving or Racing charge. When you were charged with Stunt Driving or Racing in Ontario, the police officer gave you a summons with your court details for your first appearance. The details will include the date, time and the court where you need to appear. Here is a list of most of the Ontario Provincial courts which handle Stunt Driving or Racing charges. Barrie, Belleville, Bracebridge – Muskoka, Brampton, Brockville – Leeds & Grenville, Caledon East, Cayuga – Haldimand,Chatham – Kent, C...

How to Avoid Jail Time for Stunt Driving Part 2: Additional Legal Strategies When Ontario drivers facing stunt driving charges search for comprehensive strategies to avoid jail time, prevent incarceration, or eliminate imprisonment risk, they discover that effective jail avoidance requires multiple coordinated interventions beyond the legal submissions, pre-sentencing reports, and Jenkins Caution compliance covered in Part 1. As Ontario's premier stunt driving legal representative, Jon Cohen at Nextlaw employs additional sophisticated strategies including employment and financial hardship documentation, character references demonstrating community standing, medical and mental health consideration presentations, early negotiation with prosecutors preventing jail-seeking positions, and proactive accountability demonstrations convincing judges that imprisonment serves no legitimate purpose when defendants show genuine remorse through meaningful alternative actions. According to Jon ...

As per thew new MOMS (Moving Ontarian's More Safely) Act, you've just finished your 14-day roadside impoundment and your 30-day license suspension after being charged with Stunt Driving or Racing in Ontario under section 172(1) of the Highway Traffic Act.  Your court date is approaching, and now it's time to get some legal advice. Be careful out there - it's a jungle of misinformation and empty promises When you do a Google search for Stunt Driving legal representation, all sorts of results come up.  Some sound amazing such as "We win or it's free" or anyone claiming to be a "lawyer". Here are some tips for finding the best Stunt Driving Law Firm to get you the best outcome from your Stunt Driving case. Tip #1 – We Win or it's Free - AVOID THIS First off, this type of claim is not ethical and is prohibited by the law society.  There are specific rules and regulations here.  First off, what is a "win" in a stunt charge?  Do...

As per thew new MOMS (Moving Ontarian's More Safely) Act, you've just finished your 14-day roadside impoundment and your 30-day license suspension after being charged with Stunt Driving or Racing in Ontario under section 172(1) of the Highway Traffic Act.  You have a court date between 2-4 months in the future.  So what now?  Let's take a closer look... What happens after the Stunt Driving roadside penalties? The charge has just begun.  The impound and suspension were the immediate roadside penalties.  Now, you must prepare for court in order to defend or address your charges.  You are charged with Stunt Driving under section 172(1) of the Highway Traffic Act, and includes the following penalties: - Fines: The minimum fine is $2,000. The maximum fine is $10,000. - Demerit Points: 6 - Jail: Up to 6 months - Probation: Up to 2 years. - License Suspension: not less than 1-year and not more than 3 years; I attend court?  Is it Zoom?  I'm confused... As of now, al...

The 30-day license suspension is now active.  If you have been charged as of around July 13, then you are now receiving an instant roadside suspension for 30-days (along with the 14-day car impound).  The new MOMS (Moving Ontarian's More Safely) Act now includes a 30-day roadside suspension when you are charged with Stunt Driving or Racing in Ontario under section 172(1) of the Highway Traffic Act.  This means that if you speed at 50km/h or more above the posted speed limit in an 80km/h or higher zone, or if you are 40km/h in a zone lower than 80km/h - you will immediately get a 30-day administrative license suspension at the scene of the charge. How do I get my car back after the 14-day impound period? With your immediate suspension, you will have to have someone pick you up at the scene of the charge.  This means that you will have to arrange a family member, UBER or another mode of transportation to pick you up at the roadside.  With a license suspension for 30 days, you cann...

The Moving Ontarians More Safely (MOMS) Act has introduced significant changes to Stunt Driving enforcement in Ontario, particularly regarding immediate roadside consequences. Understanding these changes and your rights during a Stunt Driving charge is not just crucial, but can be the difference between a smooth process and a challenging one. From the moment of the traffic stop through the impoundment period and beyond, knowing how to navigate this process can significantly impact your experience and outcomes. Understanding the MOMS Act Changes Speed Thresholds That Trigger Charges - 50 km/h over on roads posted 80 km/h or higher - 40 km/h over on roads posted under 80 km/h - Immediate roadside vehicle seizure - Mandatory 14-day impoundment period Recent Client Experience This week, we assisted a client charged on Highway 427 who faced typical roadside confusion. "The officer took my license and called a tow truck immediately. I wasn't prepared for how ...

How to Avoid Jail Time for Stunt Driving: Ontario Legal Strategies When Ontario drivers face stunt driving charges and search for ways to avoid jail time, prevent incarceration, or understand their actual imprisonment risk, they discover that Section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act authorizes up to six months jail upon conviction—creating legitimate fear about potential imprisonment consequences. As Ontario's leading stunt driving legal representative, Jon Cohen at Nextlaw has analyzed thousands of stunt driving cases across all 53 Provincial Offences Act courts to identify specific factors that make jail time less likely and sophisticated legal strategies that prevent incarceration even when prosecutors initially seek imprisonment. According to Jon Cohen's documentation, fewer than 1% of first-offense stunt driving convictions result in actual jail sentences, but this percentage increases dramatically when prosecutors issue Jenkins Cautions, speeds exceed 180 kilometers per h...

Hiring an Ontario Stunt Drive Law firm – Part 1: Google Reviews - There are 3 key things you need to know on how to use Google reviews when looking for a Stunt Driving law firm in Ontario. 1. Make Google reviews a key part of your Stunt Drive keyword search - Google reviews are important for obvious reasons. - Not only are they important for you to get a sense of the Stunt Driving law firm you may be hiring, but they are important for Stunt Driving law firms. - Legal services — especially Stunt Driving cases — are competitive. Every law firm knows that Google reviews play an important part in how a client decides who to retain. - You should retain a law firm that has a lot of Google reviews.   - Generally, lots of Google reviews show that the law firm is aware of the competitive nature of legal services and shows they are working hard to get your business. - These law firms will also work hard to get the best result for you. And, great results for your case will ...

Stunt Driving penalties in Ontario - The MOMS Act just made it harder.  Here are the facts... As of June 3, 2021, the Moving Ontarians More Safely (MOMS) Act just got the Royal Assent in the legislature, and became law. The Schedule amends the Highway Traffic Act, specifically, Section 172(1) - which deals with Stunt Driving or Racing charges in Ontario. The Act is amended with respect to racing motor vehicles on highways and includes the following amendments: More specifically, this changes the following: - Subsection 172 (2) is amended to require a mandatory licence suspension if convicted of an offence under subsection 172 (1). - Section 172 is amended to change the duration of the administrative impoundment of a vehicle from seven days to 14 days and to change the duration of a licence suspension from seven days to 30 days. Let's take a closer look in plain english... Roadside License Suspension When you are pulled over at roadside by the officer issuing a Stu...

I have a reason why I was going so fast. Can I use this reason as a defence to fight my Stunt Driving or Racing charge? There are valid defences to fight an Ontario Stunt Driving or Racing charge. However, most “excuses” are NOT defences. Because a Stunt Driving or a Racing charge is a public safety offence, the lawmakers made it very difficult to “win” these cases. That means most excuses won’t get you off this charge. Excuse #1 – “Everyone else was driving that speed too.” No, this is NOT a defence. - Many clients believe they were following other speeding drivers. - Police have the right to ticket ANY driver for exceeding the posted limit. - It does NOT matter whether other drivers were at this speed as well. The Prosecutor only needs to prove that you drove “in excess of 50khm over the posted speed limit”. Excuse #2 – “I can’t lose my drivers license and pay crazy insurance rates. No, this is NOT a defence. - Many clients have to drive for work. Or, for thei...