If a Police officer issues you a summon or a ticket to appear in court for Careless Driving, try and avoid any form of desperation in your decision making process. Generally, people make wrong decisions when they are desperate. Though the thought of adding on another stress through unwarranted Careless Driving Ticket could sometimes weigh on your mind. The critical part of the process is choosing the right legal rep. Through your expériences, you’ll have to be strong, calm and focus on finding the right lawyer to help you beat your case.

Never at all should you make the decision to surrender to a plea deal if your goal is to keep or restore your driving record. As drivers, we all know the importance of maintaining a clean driving record. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to protect your drivers abstract.

Later on in this article, i’ll provide you with the vital reasons of why you’ll need to do well to maintain a clean driver’s abstract.

The term “careless” usually implies offence. But breathe! This might not be so in this scenario. If you were charged with careless driving, you don’t have to worry about a criminal record. It’s a Highway Traffic Act Offence and not governed by the Criminal Code in Ontario. Regardless, you violated and might still be facing the music. Fines, license suspension, and demerit points on your license are likely to happen but at traffic tickets experts, we go the extra mile to resolve your ticket issues. Sometimes, jail-time in extreme cases do occur. If you drove carelessly and it resulted in an accident, injury or death, so long as your case could be argued that your intent was pure, and no recklessness in play then a criminal record should be avoidable. In crucial cases such as this, a police officer investigates. If they sense foul play, then you could be charged with “reckless driving.”

What then is reckless driving?

Usually, if you were charged with careless driving then there was an error and no harm intended by you. Conversely, reckless driving is also known as dangerous driving. Times like this, there would be argument that you had intent and purposely disregarded driving rules. If you are charged with reckless driving, be sure to seek legal counsel. A traffic lawyer is your best bet and at Traffic Tickets, we’ve got you covered.

Unlike careless driving, reckless driving convictions in Ontario come with severe penalties. We are talking about possible jail-time, increased insurance rates, large fines, driving license suspension for a year and criminal record for a lifetime. If it’s your first-time defaulting, your charges could be less compared to previously convicted ones. If you’re unlucky and have been convicted previously, you may be facing a few years imprisonment. Should your case be one with injury or death, severity of penalties would likely increase. Whatever the case, do not hesitate to consult the traffic ticket experts. We have a 95% win rate.

Careless Driving Tickets

Careless driving ticket is basically your reward for driving carelessly. Let’s say you were negligent or you drove in a manner that put others at risk, you’ll get a ticket. When there has been an accident, an officer arrives at the scene, analyzes, and issues you a ticket. If you have been accused wrongly, it is advised to not pay ticket fines as this is an admission of wrongdoing. Careless driving tickets will give you demerit points on your license, exorbitant fines and possibly higher insurance rates. So, it’s in your best interest to get a ticket dismissed if you aren’t at fault or you’ve defaulted previously. At traffic tickets, we specialize in tickets dismissal and we promise to give you the best possible outcome to your ticket problems.

Being charged with careless driving in Ontario sometimes comes with a fine. This depends on the severity of the offence. If you were charged for driving carelessly, you’d incur points on your license and paying the fine equates guilt. Also, receiving no-fines for extreme cases like careless driving ticket with an accident summons you to court. You’ll be required to answer for the charges against you and possibly pay a huge fine subsequently. Similarly, if found guilty, chances are a license suspension is imminent – or even a jail sentence.

Fines for careless driving in Ontario range from $400 to $2000 and 6 demerit points incurred on your license. If you’re not so lucky and default in a school or construction zone, fines would be higher. License suspension could range from a few months for new drivers to a few years for existing drivers. If you’ve been given a careless driving sentence, your jail-time could be up to 6 months. If you have a previous record, you’d be getting more time – possibly years. In addition to this, your insurer is likely to increase your rates by as much as a 100% if you’re found to be guilty of careless driving.

Having a careless driving ticket citation could be a taint on your perfect record. A charge for such could stay up to three years. Be it that you were negligent or mere innocent. Not to worry, it can be challenged and disputed by us. On no account should you pay the ticket fine without bringing it under scrutiny. Tickets have been and will always be dismissed in traffic courts when you have the right representation. Those that are familiar with the court-setting sometimes represent themselves but this isn’t advisable. Before paying that fine and having a citation on your record, consult our traffic court experts – its free! We help you discuss your options and you walk away with little or no charges.

Careless Driving Defense

Most careless driving charges are easily dismissed because it’s our word against theirs. The police officers are mostly never at the scene – in cases of accidents. Despite being charged, the officer’s testimony would most likely be inadmissible in court and this is to our advantage. Our experts and traffic lawyers would assist and challenge whatever evidence is brought against you. In most careless driving summons Ontario, it’s a case between the accused and the litigant. We dismiss the charge(s) or get them reduced, depending on the context. Usually in court, there’d be evidences presented, testimonies by witnesses if present at the scene – police inclusive sometimes. Our arguments in your favor could range from mechanical failure of the vehicle, fault of the other driver and even health conditions. The aim is to prove that there was a driving error which wasn’t intended and our lawyers do that on your behalf.

How To Fight Reckless Driving Ticket?

Getting a reckless driving ticket dismissed is a much difficult ball game. But it can be achieved. If it seems futile, we argue to have the charges reduced to careless driving. This is in your best interest as careless driving charges are a much better alternative. This way, we prevent criminal record to your name and you avoid stiffer penalties.

Having insurance coverage doesn’t give you the permission to drive carelessly. Insuring your vehicle has its purpose – repair costs should you have an accident, medical bills payment and making you a legal driver. If you drive carelessly and you’re given a ticket, it will have an ill-effect on your insurance premium.

Insurance coverage for careless drivers in Ontario could be affected the following ways:

❖ Your Car Insurance Premium Increases: if issued a ticket for careless driving, your car insurance payments will be going higher. The rates will vary from company to company but you might be paying as high as a 100%. You should note that getting a ticket has no effect till it’s paid for. If you pay as a result of being in a hurry or mere obliviousness, you admit guilt and this goes on record. Fundamentally, unless you’ve been convicted of your careless driving you shouldn’t be bothering about increased car insurance rates. This makes it essential to dismiss careless driving tickets as soon as they’re issued.

❖ You’d Be Tagged A High-risk Driver: the more your careless driving convictions, the less your chances of being insured. This is because your driving record reports poorly on you. Insurance companies label you “high-risk” and those that will consider insuring you will do at higher rates.

❖ You Lose Insurance Coverage: as soon as your insurance lapses, chances are your issuer cuts you off. Accruing careless driving tickets to your record puts you in no position to have your insurance renewed.

Careless driving sure has its downsides. It could be devastating especially when it involves car insurance. Either you’re driving without insurance in Ontario or you have one, safe-driving should be your watchword. Increased insurance premium rates could stay as long as three years, ripping you off money for other purposes. It is advisable to avoid convictions so as to enjoy the best insurance rates possible. Should you be issued a ticket or default on not having an insurance, hit us up for a free consultation and we’d gladly discuss your options.