Stunt driving, racing and dangerous driving offences come with a number of hefty consequences that can permanently affect your driving record and result in a suspended licence. The following is a basic breakdown of what each of these offences entails:
- Racing refers to two or more cars racing one another from a designated departure point and driving above the speed limit. It also applies to one car chasing another vehicle. Whether the purpose is competitive or not, these situations fall under the racing category and the penalty will reflect this particular offence.
- Stunt driving refers to a number of things, including drifting, doing donuts, popping wheelies as well as exceeding the speed limit by 50km/h. Any driving activities that can endanger the lives of others or other cars or put pedestrians at risk can also be categorized as stunt driving, as can intentionally preventing passing, stopping or cutting off other vehicles.
Driving recklessly will affect everyone on the road, which is why individuals who drive dangerously are penalized heavily so that they understand the severity of their actions and do not repeat the offence. Anyone charged with either a stunt driving or racing offence will receive an automatic driving suspension for seven days, which will be effective right away along with a seven day vehicle impound that the individual will have to pay. This means the cost of towing and impound fees will have to be covered by the driver who is being charged. If the individual is convicted, they may also have to pay additional fines that range from $2,000 up to $10,000 and may face a suspension of their driver’s licence for up to ten years. There is also the possibility of the accumulation of six demerit points, so, overall, there are several consequences the individual will have to face as a result of committing one of these offences.
A conviction will also result in a significant increase in the individual’s insurance rate and, in many cases, the amount will be so high the driver will be unable to afford it. Often, those who are convicted of stunt driving or racing are ineligible for insurance altogether because of their actions, resulting in the inability to drive for a very long period of time. If the individual is able to drive, they will be responsible for all of the costs and fees associated with the process, including reinstating their licence and victim fine surcharges.
If you’ve been charged with careless driving, the experts at Bulwark Legal Services can help. If you need assistance fighting speeding ticket Ontario or fighting traffic tickets Ontario, Guelph we can help you move forward from the incident. We are located in Guelph and help clients from the surrounding areas, so if you want to minimize the consequences of your offense and reduce the amount you have to pay, give us a call today.
