Every day we receive phone calls from people who are in the unfortunate situation of having to make decisions related to a traffic ticket they have received. Many of them are curious about their options, and are wondering whether they should just pay the ticket versus explore other possibilities. In some instances, paying the ticket is the best option, but this decision should not be taken lightly. Even a small or 0 demerit point ticket will appear on your record and could impact your insurance rates.
How do I pay my traffic ticket?
In Ontario, the police issue charges as either traditional “tickets”, that have a fine right on them, OR as a summons to court. The difference is that tickets with the fine on them are generally less serious. These will be offences like speeding or stop sign violations. These can be paid right away if you decide not to fight it.
The options for paying these tickets are:
- Online – using a site like paytickets.ca, payfines.ca or a court-specific website. Check Ticket Lookup for more information. You will need to have the ticket number (from the top of the ticket), the date of the offence, and the total amount of the fine for most of the websites. The number in the top left is called an “ICON” number and can be used to determine which court jurisdiction the ticket is from.
- Phone – All courts offer the ability to pay your fine over the phone. This generally requires a credit card. You will need the details of your ticket, or they can look you up using your driver’s licence number.
- Mail – There are instructions on the ticket for payment by mail. This would usually involve sending a cheque by regular mail. Be sure to check that the court receives it to avoid further issues or possible licence suspension. We recommend mailing these in with a form of paid tracking if possible.
- In-Person – You can physically attend the court that the ticket is linked to and pay your ticket during their normal business hours.
How do I check the status of my ticket online?
We recommend using the Online Ticket Lookup to either inquire into the status of your ticket or find out about additional payment options for your specific ticket. This website will give you information about whether you have been found guilty already, or assist you will scheduling a court hearing if you are eligible. This website will also give you information about any upcoming court hearings – including the time and date they are scheduled.
The case lookup website is a great tool for finding out information about the status of your ticket without needing to call the court. It will often take a number of days after being given a ticket for it to show up on the website. It may be a good idea to speak to a Ticket Shield representative about your options if it does not show up.
Can I pay my summons fine online?
A summons is generally going to be more serious. They are used for offences like Stunt Driving or Driving While Suspended. A summons will require you (or your legal representative) to attend court on a specific date to respond to the charge against you. There is no option to simply pay this ticket ahead of the summons date. The fine on these charges normally has a range, which can be thousands of dollars, so the exact details are not yet determined. Once the outcome has been decided, then you will often have options to pay the fine either online, or using another method. The easiest way to determine what methods of payment you can use is to wait for the Notice of Fine and Due Date that will arrive in the mail.
When is my ticket fine due?
If you do not pay your ticket before the deadline to fight it, or if you are found guilty by the court, you will receive a Notice of Fine and Due Date in the mail. This document will indicate when the fine is due and how to pay it. It is important to pay the fine prior to the due date to avoid licence suspension or a collections process to be started. There are options to extend the due date or apply for a payment plan if you need one. You can find out more about this process or about the fine due date by calling the Provincial Offences Court.
SHOULD I pay my traffic ticket?
Paying your ticket is the same as pleading guilty to the charge. You should very carefully consider this reality before quickly paying your fine. It is very difficult (and sometimes impossible) to undo. We get calls every week from people who pay their ticket only hours or days after they receive it, and later decide that they want to fight it after discovering the implications of it. This makes fighting the ticket considerably more complicated.
Nearly all types of tickets will have serious penalties associated with it. These can range from demerit (or CVOR) points, large fines, insurance rate increases, licence suspensions, even a jail term. It is often a mistake to take a ticket lightly and assume it will not have an impact on you. Don’t wait until after it is too late. Find out what the penalties are and what options you have to avoid them.
Even when you think you are guilty of the offence, it is often still worthwhile to fight the ticket. The court system is designed in a way that allows people to seek leniency on charges, and sometimes have tickets dropped entirely.
We receive calls every day asking “Should I just pay my speeding ticket?” with the assumption that speeding tickets are minor and generally will not cause their insurance to increase. It is important to consider that a 0 demerit point ticket can still cause your insurance rates to increase. Another thing that some people do not realize is that even if you get a speeding ticket and the the officer has already reduced your ticket at the side of the road, there are still options for you to consider.
Do I still need to pay my ticket if I am fighting it?
If you have decided to contest your ticket and you have properly requested that you are given a hearing, then no, you do not pay the ticket at this time. By paying the ticket, you will be pleading guilty and that will close the case. Once the case concludes, the court will indicate whether there are any fines owing and a new due date will be assigned.
If you have already paid the ticket and have now decided that you want to fight it, you may still have some options to either reopen it or appeal the charge. It would be a good idea to speak to a Ticket Shield representative about your options for this.
Ticket Shield offers FREE Consultations and Quotes
We are happy to provide you with a free consultation and quote for your traffic ticket. There is absolutely no obligation to hire us afterward. We provide quotes and free consultations to many people every day. By contacting us about your ticket, we will be able to make sure you fully understand the consequences of your ticket and go over your options. If after contacting us you decide you pay your ticket, you will be doing so with a complete understanding of what that means and what your options were.
You can contact Ticket Shield either by phone at 1-855-561-3699, through the website: here, or by texting us at 289-272-1957. You can normally expect a prompt (same business day) reply.
We generally use flat fees and would be happy to provide you with a quote for our services. This means you will have all of the information in advance and there will not be any worrying about any unexpected extra fees or expenses. We would encourage you to check out our How It Works page for more information about the process of hiring us if you are interested.
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