Traffic tickets—often referred to as citations or fines—are issued by police officers when a driver is believed to have violated traffic laws.

Receiving a traffic ticket is a formal notification that an offence is alleged to have occurred. The ticket outlines key details such as the specific violation, the date, time, and location of the incident, and the fine or penalty connected to the charge.

In Ontario, most traffic tickets are due to a violation of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) and are processed under Part I of the Provincial Offences Act (POA).

Typical traffic offences, also known as moving violations, include:

• speeding
• running red lights
• unsafe lane changes
• distracted and careless driving
• driving without proper documentation
• fail to signal
• following too closely

A traffic ticket is not a criminal charge in most cases. It is usually a provincial offence. However, some driving-related conduct (such as impaired driving or dangerous driving) may be charged under the federal Criminal Code, which is treated differently. Visit Criminal Law for information on these types of offences.

What laws govern traffic tickets?

1. Highway Traffic Act (HTA) – sets out the rules of the road and driving requirements.
2. Provincial Offences Act (POA) – sets out the court procedures for provincial offences, including how tickets are issued, disputed, and resolved.
3. Municipal by-laws – regulate matters such as parking, noise, and local traffic rules.

Checking the status of a ticket

To check the status of an Ontario traffic ticket, use the official POA online services portal by entering your 4-digit location code and 8-digit offence number.

You cannot check the status of:

• Criminal matters
• Parking tickets
• Cases under appeal
• Cases involving publication bans
• Charges involving individuals under 16

More information

For a full list of offences under the HTA, visit the Ontario Court of Justice.

Visit Highway Traffic Law for more information on common traffic offences and how to fight a traffic ticket.

								
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