If you do not pay the fine imposed on your traffic ticket, or dispute the ticket within 30 days, you will receive an automatic conviction.

Along with an automatic conviction, failing to pay a traffic fine in Ontario comes with other penalties that will escalate over time. You may also face the following consequences:

• The Ministry of Transportation may suspend the driver’s licence until payment is made.
• You will have to pay additional fees to get your licence back.
• You may be refused the ability to validate your vehicle permit (plate sticker) or renew your licence plates
• Your credit may be impacted because unpaid fines are often sent to third-party collection agencies

When can a ticket be dismissed?

If the ticket contains a fatal flaw, the court can dismiss the ticket. An example of a fatal flaw is if the defendant’s name is not on it or there is no offence date or no location or if the officer did not sign the ticket. A minor error such as a misspelled name is not a fatal flaw.

More information

View the Ontario Highway Traffic Act for more information on common traffic offences and the consequences of not paying your fine.

More information can also be found in the Highway Traffic Law section of Legal Line.

								
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