Speeding is one of the most common tickets on GTA roads, from the 401 and the DVP to residential streets in Markham, Richmond Hill, and North York. Many drivers pay right away to get it over with. But paying a ticket is a guilty plea, and the conviction can bring demerit points, problems for a novice licence, and consequences that last much longer than the fine.
This guide covers tickets an officer gives you for speeding under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act. Camera tickets mailed to a vehicle owner work differently; see our article on red light camera and speed camera tickets.
For most speeding tickets, the set fine is calculated per km/h over the limit, and the rate per km/h goes up as the speed goes up. The bands in the Ontario Court of Justice's set fine schedule are:
If you choose to pay, you pay the total amount shown on the ticket.
Location matters. In a signed community safety zone, and in a construction zone when workers are present, the set fines in the court schedule are double the regular speeding set fines at each band. When no workers are present, the construction-zone set fines are the same as the regular ones.
According to the Ontario government's demerit point list, a speeding conviction adds:
Demerit points stay on your record for two years from the offence date. For a fully licensed driver, warning letters start at 6 points, and 15 or more points leads to a 30-day licence suspension. Novice drivers (G1, G2, M1, M2) face lower thresholds: 9 or more points means a 60-day suspension. Our article on how demerit points work in Ontario explains the full system.
Very high speeds are not treated as an ordinary speeding ticket. Under Ontario's rules, driving 40 km/h or more over the limit on a road with a limit under 80 km/h, or 50 km/h or more over any limit, is stunt driving, as is driving 150 km/h or more anywhere in the province. Stunt driving brings an immediate roadside licence suspension and vehicle impoundment, and much more serious penalties on conviction. See our article on stunt driving charges in Ontario.
If you hold a G1, G2, M1, or M2 licence, a conviction for speeding 30 km/h or more over the limit brings at least a 30-day licence suspension, and possible licence cancellation under Ontario's escalating penalties program. For newer drivers, including many international students and newcomers, a "simple" speeding ticket can affect your licence far more than the fine suggests.
The Ontario government explains that if you receive an offence notice, you can:
Early resolution and trial requests are generally not available if you have already paid or have been deemed not to dispute because you did not respond to the ticket within 15 days. If you do nothing, you can be convicted in your absence, and further costs can be added. You can ask for language interpretation when you choose your option. Our article on how to fight a traffic ticket in Ontario walks through these choices.
If I pay the ticket, is it over? Paying is a guilty plea. You will be convicted, and any demerit points for that speed will be added to your record.
I was charged with 50 km/h over. Why is there no fine on my ticket? For 50 km/h or more over the limit, the set fine schedule has no out-of-court settlement, so the matter must go to court. Speeds at this level can also lead to stunt driving charges.
How long do the demerit points stay on my record? Demerit points stay on your driving record for two years from the offence date.
Can I get an interpreter? Yes. You can request language interpretation when you choose your option online or on the back of the ticket.
This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Every case turns on its own facts.
A speeding ticket is often worth a second look before you pay it, especially if you hold a novice licence or already have points. At WP Legal Professional, our licensed paralegals help drivers across the Greater Toronto Area respond to speeding and other Highway Traffic Act charges, in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Korean. Learn more about our traffic ticket defence services.
Do not let the 15-day deadline pass. Contact us for a confidential consultation.
