A traffic violation is any violation committed while operating a vehicle. These can include moving violations, equipment violations or permit/licence violations (referring to insurance, registration etc.)
Upon conviction, all traffic violations involve a fine that must be paid. The fines for traffic violations vary from province to province. In Ontario, the Highway Traffic Act has set fines for most infractions.
For some convictions, demerit points are assigned to the driver, based on the offence. As the driver receives more demerit points, he or she may face consequences such as having to attend driving courses, retaking a driving test or even a suspension of his or her licence. You can read more about demerit points here.
In 2015, the Ontario Court of Justice received over 1 million charges under the Highway Traffic Act. These are the top 10 most common offences in Ontario:
source: https://www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/files/stats/poa/2015/2015-Q4-POA-Statute.pdf
By Kimber Lubberts
