Criminal Court Matters

Paralegals in Ontario are authorized to represent Defendants in Criminal Court on Summary matters only (charges for which the Criminal Code assigns a fine $5,000.00 and up to a maximum of 6 months incarceration).

PARALEGALS CAN REPRESENT YOU IN THE FOLLOWING CHARGES:

Domestic Assault, Theft under $5,000.00, Fraud under $5,000.00, Robbery, Mischief and any other charges that are classified as Summary charges.

FOR SUPER-SUMMARY AND INDICTABLE CHARGES YOU NEED TO BE REPRESENTED BY A LAWYER!

Super-summary charges are those usually related to alcohol and may carry a fine of $1,000.00 and up to 18 months of incarceration if you are found guilty)

Indictable charges are those for which the fine is less than $5,000.00 and the incarceration can be for more than 6 months (and which are not super-summary charges).

DO NOT TAKE CHANCES WITH YOUR FREEDOM! – ALWAYS CONSULT BEFORE YOU DECIDE

Offence Notice

“OFFENCE NOTICE”
This is the most common way to be charged in Ontario. The maximum fine when charged with a ticket cannot exceed $500.00 and there is no possibility of jail time (See the replica in the box on the side).

“SUMMONS TO APPEAR”
The Summons to Appear” contains a Court date and the address of the Court to which you must attend answer to the charge. The reason why sometimes the Police charge an individual with a Summons to Appear as opposed to a regular Offence Notice is that the range of penalties is much higher and the other penalties may be far more serious, such as a maximum fine of $5,000.00, up to six months of incarceration and sometimes suspension of the Driver’s Licence.

6 Points
  • Careless Driving
  • Racing – Stunt driving
  • Exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/h or more
  • Failing to stop for a school bus
5 Points
  • Driver of a bus failing to stop at an unprotected railway crossing
4 Points
  • Exceeding the speed limit by 30 to 49 km/h
  • Following too closely
3 Points
  • Exceeding the speed limit by 16 to 29 km/h
  • Driving through, around or under a railway crossing barrier
  • Failing to yield the right-of-way
  • Failing to obey a stop sign, traffic light or railway crossing signal
  • Failing to obey the directions of a police officer
  • Driving the wrong way on a divided road
  • Failing to report a collision to a police officer
  • Improper driving when road is divided into lanes
  • Crowding the driver′s seat
  • Going the wrong way on a one-way road
  • Driving or operating a vehicle on a closed road
  • Crossing a divided road where no proper crossing is provided
2 Points
  • Improper opening of a vehicle door
  • Towing people – on toboggans, bicycles, skis, etc.
  • Failing to obey signs
  • Failing to stop at a pedestrian crossing
  • Failing to share the road
  • Improper right turn
  • Improper left turn
  • Failing to signal
  • Unnecessary slow driving
  • Reversing on a divided high-speed road
  • Driver failing to wear a seat belt
  • Driver failing to ensure that a passenger less than 23 kg is properly secured
  • Driver failing to ensure that a passenger under 16 years is wearing a seat belt

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY YOU (ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY ASSURED):

  • What were you charged with?
  • Your Name
  • Your Full Address
  • Your Telephone No.
  • Your Email Address
  • Date of the Offence
  • Where did the Police stop you?
  • Ticket Number (located at the top)
  • Total Fine Payable
  • (If a Summons to Appear) Location of the Court where you are to appear?
  • (If a Summons to Appear) Date and time when you must appear
  • (If a Summons to Appear) Courtroom number where you must appear