Careless & Reckless Driving Charges

Careless Driving tickets are one of the most common violations handed out by police in Ontario. However, many drivers are still not completely clear on what exactly is considered to be Careless Driving or Reckless Driving (Reckless Driving is an American term that is sometimes used to describe Careless Driving in Ontario). A Reckless or Careless Driving charge in Ontario can encompass a wide range of incidents. According to the Ontario Highway Traffic Act,

“Every person is guilty of the offence of Careless Driving and driving carelessly who drives a vehicle on a highway without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway”

The penalties for Careless or reckless driving in Ontario may include:

  • 6 demerit points on your license
  • A minimum fine of $400
  • Imprisonment up to 6 months
  • Possible license suspension up to 2 years
  • Serious implications for your auto insurance

A Careless Driving charge can not only affect your insurance, but also your ability to drive. Therefore, it is in your best interest to fight your Careless Driving ticket with the help of an experienced legal team. Mavericks Legal Services can help you navigate the complex legal process that can often come with fighting your Careless Driving ticket in Ontario.




Mavericks Legal Services can help you fight to win your Careless Driving charge in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Newmarket, Durham or Halton regions. Contact us to discuss your case for free!


“Careless

A cautionary note from Mavericks to those facing a Careless Driving charge in Ontario:

There is a troubling but long-standing practice in Ontario to ‘over-charge’ where the police officer is unsure of the driver’s wrongful act. For instance, where a car accident investigation points to the driver making an unsafe lane change, or perhaps running a red light, the police officer may instead lay the far more serious charge of Careless Driving. (Careless Driving can lead to a six-month jail term and a two year drivers’ license suspension)

The reasons for this vary, but generally speaking the broad circumstances that are caught by the Careless Driving definition allow it to be laid even where a more appropriate charge exists in the Highway Traffic Act.

The result is that many defendants who decide to fight the Careless Driving allegation end up pleading guilty to the lesser offence that should have been laid in the first place. The predicament causes the driver to forgo his right to challenge the case. And its not just unrepresented defendants that are caught in this trap, our competitors have been know to fall for it too… Let Mavericks navigate these legal waters for you. A conviction for any offence arising from a motor vehicle collision can have a compounding effect on your insurability and civil liability. We have extensive experience in Careless Driving litigation – Call us first!

It is a common mistake to conclude that because the circumstances that may amount to Careless Driving are broad, that the legal definition of Careless Driving is also broad. This is untrue. The legal definition of Careless Driving sets out a precise description of conduct that will attract a conviction when applying the legal test for Careless Driving.




At Mavericks, we fight Careless Driving charges regularly. Charged with Careless Driving in Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga or anywhere in the GTA? Call us first!


Every person is guilty of the offence of driving carelessly who drives a vehicle or street car on a highway without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway.

Upon conviction the driver is liable to a fine of not less than $400 and not more than $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both, and in addition his or her licence or permit may be suspended for a period of not more than two years. Careless Driving carries six Demerit Points.


The Legal Character of Careless Driving in Ontario

Careless Driving is a Strict Liability Offence in accordance with the Supreme Court of Canada’s classification of regulatory offences in R. v. Sault Ste. Marie. The defences available on a charge of Careless Driving may be gleaned from the leading precedents. One of which, R. v. Beauchamp sets out the test for Careless Driving this way: “It must also be borne in mind that the test, where an accident has occurred, is not whether, if the accused had used greater care or skill, the accident would not have happened. It is whether it is proved beyond reasonable doubt that this accused, in the light of existing circumstances of which he was aware or of which a driver exercising ordinary care should have been aware, failed to use the care and attention or to give to other persons using the highway the consideration that a driver of ordinary care would have used or given in the circumstances. The use of the term “due care” in the Careless Driving definition, which means care owing in the circumstances, makes it quite clear that while the legal standard of care remains the same in the sense that it is what the average careful man would have done in like circumstances, the factual standard is a constantly shifting one depending on road condition, visibility, weather conditions, traffic conditions that exist or may reasonably be expected, and any other conditions that ordinary prudent driver would take into consideration. It is a question of fact,depending on the circumstances in each case.”

Careless Driving is an anomaly among other strict liability offences. Generally, a strict liability case will place the onus upon the defendant to establish on a balance of probabilities that he exercised all reasonable care owing under the circumstances. Careless Driving is unique in that the actus reus or ‘guilty act’ contemplated by the legislation is essentially the inverse – that the driver ‘failed to exercise all reasonable care’. In other words, the elements that form the allegation of Careless Driving are the exact opposite of the elements in the defence available in the strict liability doctrine. It follows then to escape conviction the defendant would need only raise a reasonable doubt that he ‘failed to exercise all reasonable care owing under the circumstances’, as opposed to meeting the higher legal threshold of establishing on a balance of probabilities that he exercised all reasonable care to be acquitted. This notion is not reflected in the pre-Charter caselaw such as Beauchamp, noted above.

Careless Driving – Questions and Myths



Fight Smart. Never Give Up.

Google Rating
5.0

THE best paralegal I've ever used so far for the traffic ticket.Todd is really honest and professional that he knows how the procedure works and what he is talking about. No fake promise but only professional explanations and keep you updated promptly.Just got my ticket dismissed yesterday and big thanks to Todd's work!Will recommend Mavericks Legal Service and Todd to anyone who needs the help on the ticket!
Gloria XIA
Gloria XIA
21:00 06 Sep 18
Spoke to Todd, gave him a idea of my situation, he immediately explained to me the process and made me feel a lot more confident over everything and gave me very sound advice.I would recommend him 10/10. Very Professional and very Friendly. Thumbs up!!!!
Gabriel Salas
Gabriel Salas
00:24 11 Jul 18
Todd Brown is a consummate professional and I would not hesitate to recommend his services. He excelled in my situation where others faltered and has my heartfelt gratitude for his work.
Paul Daniel
Paul Daniel
20:13 16 Jul 18
Todd did a great job and was persistent until we got the result....A WIN! Driving record remains clear, and no insurance hike all because of Todds hard work. Thanks for everything Todd!!
R DeV
R DeV
22:22 31 May 18
Todd is very clear about the possible outcomes of the trial and does not push you to choose the service. Throughout the process, he is very professional and thorough.Todd will help you go through the trial instead of taking a plea deal with the prosecutor. Please keep in mind that a conviction without point still counts as an offense for your insurance.At the end, he helped me get the case dismissed.
Zhibai Tang
Zhibai Tang
17:53 21 Feb 18
Todd Brown is the BEST paralegal in the GTA, hands down! Empathetic, honest, and always keeps you in the loop. Also delivers exceptional results. Over $6000 in traffic tickets dropped to date! Do yourself a favour and hire this firm, you won't regret it!
Sakaanan Puvanenthiran
Sakaanan Puvanenthiran
18:03 18 Mar 18
Todd is a wonderful Paralegal. I got a really bad stunt driving ticket going 88 over the limit and Todd was able to get my charges reduced. It was a long road but I found him to be very professional and knowledgeable.I would recommend Todd for anyone and everyone. Hands down the absolute best Paralegal in the GTA!!
Hasan Ali
Hasan Ali
18:14 04 Feb 19
Full 5 star review average for a very good reason, Todd is without a doubt among the best legal representatives you could have in the province.He has thorough knowledge on each jurisdiction and handles each individual case accordingly. No one will work harder to get you the best outcome for your tickets/charges than Todd from Maverick Legal Services. Pair that with extremely reasonable rates and you have the best driving-related legal service in the GTA, hands down.Would give 6 stars if I could, highly recommended.
Abdullah Mamoon
Abdullah Mamoon
21:02 09 Apr 21
after reading the comments from other people who were in the same or similar position as I was, I decided to reach out to Mavericks. I got a speeding ticket, 28 over the limit. Todd called me and I need to say that all the reviews are true. He is very professional and carrying. If you want to get the right information and proper service, these are the guys you should call.Without a second doubt, I would definitely reach out to him if I ever need anything again and strongly recommend him to friends and family.
Giannis Pelekis
Giannis Pelekis
17:38 05 Feb 21
BIG THANKS Todd Brown for the great support.. yesterday I got a successful closure, stunt driving allegation was withdrawn and case was concluded as speed ticket with normal fine for payment within 60 days. It won't have been easy to understand requirements, process and paperwork required without relying on Todd's experience to handle the situation over the previous 4 months.
Karim
Karim
01:05 31 Mar 16
Todd is a true professional.
Farhad Shekib
Farhad Shekib
19:53 06 Jan 22
Todd Brown is a highly skilled lawyer and he handled my case with the utmost expertise and care! I highly recommend people to utilize his services!!
Shamim Imtiaz
Shamim Imtiaz
18:26 22 Feb 22
Hi ToddI have to say thank you for all your help and hard work in this case. To be honest, I can't even believe that the case was dismissed after 3 years, this is far better than any of the outcomes I could ever expect. I have to admit I am extremely satisfied and happy with the end result, thank you. I will definitely recommend your service to all my friends if they ever run into similar situations like mine. You are more than welcome to use my testimony anywhere you want, as your legal service is truly wonderful and professional, other people deserve to know your brand.All the Best,Ray
Ray Dongruiyi
Ray Dongruiyi
03:23 25 Mar 22
Todd is a very professional person, his expertise and manners are beyond description. He was able to dismiss all my charges,I was hoping to get a minimum ticket but he got it all dismissed, from day one he was honest and straight forward;no twisted promises or hidden fees. Thank you Todd for your efforts, definitely the best legal services.Amr
mero gaby
mero gaby
02:03 22 Jul 22
Todd Brown is the most professional and kind paralegal I had met in this country. When I called him in the first place I was so scared and sad and stressful about my tickets and the racketeering from the tow driver . Todd used his super power of observation and judgment to calm me down and help to work out the tough things even not in his case. And now , I feel so lucky to find him and I believe my case will turn out very well in the end and I am looking forward to hearing all the results because I believe he is the best !I trust him so much ! Thanks Todd , a lot !
Yolanda G
Yolanda G
13:09 21 Sep 21
Wouldn’t trust anybody else other than Todd for my legal needs. Knows the ins and outs and very professional and candid with his approach which is very much appreciated with these sensitive legal matters.
Yazan Al-Sheikhly
Yazan Al-Sheikhly
13:59 08 Sep 22
I'll cut right to the chase.Todd got a stunt driving charge withdrawn, which is out of the realm of what I was expecting for this charge. I highly recommend him.Outside of getting the charge withdrawn, he was hands-on, responded quickly to requests and was transparent from the jump. I felt like I received personalized service.Again, I highly recommend Todd and Mavericks and wouldn't hesitate to use them again.
Designr Drew
Designr Drew
17:09 23 Nov 22
Todd has represented me on several occasions. A true professional, Todd spares the filler and tells it as it is. Todd and the Mavericks team communicated with me throughout the legal process and years of COVID delays. Always a phone call or email away, Todd and his team had my back. Would strongly recommend his services, there are no hidden fees or hang ups, he is very transparent and upfront about costs and likelihood of case success.
97 Ansel
97 Ansel
17:39 25 Nov 22
I have rightfully entrusted Todd Brown with multiple large penalty driving tickets with successful outcomes every time. I would reccommend (and have to many - also with successful outcomes) Todd to anyone.
Fringe Minority
Fringe Minority
16:48 25 Nov 22
Todd has been very professional and friendly. He got all my tickets dropped, including a stunt driving case. I highly recommend him!
Henry Li
Henry Li
21:08 09 Dec 22
I have had the privilege of talking with Todd Brown to share my story and benefit from his professional experience. Conversations with him have been exemplary and I have learned a great deal. What I have experienced is communicating with a man who is informative, knowledgeable and dedicated to his field of work. You can feel comfortable - especially at a time of stress and anxiety - because he tells it the way it is - and does it in an honest, sincere and fully focused way. His mandate: to help and provide top notch results. Whether I won, or lost, my case, I truly am a lucky person and immensely indebted to him for his straightforward and trustworthy approach. While one would expect first class legal services, what I received was much more from an individual who is brilliant at his profession.Thank you, Todd. I write this hoping that others do the same as I did - call you and benefit from your admirable work.read more
David Grossman
David Grossman
14:02 10 Mar 23
If you want NO conviction, NO entry, and importantly NO fine Mavericks Legal Services is the way to go! The speeding ticket that was supposedly 4 demerit points dismissed thanks to Mavericks Legal Services. Todd Brown was exceptional from start to end. He is very attentive, knowledgable, approachable, quickly accessible and keeps you informed throughout the whole process. I was anxiously waiting as my trial date was postponed due to the backlog with the pandemic. But Todd reassured me throughout the whole process. I am so glad I chose Mavericks Legal Services and moved forward with Todd's advise. Definitely recommend their services!read more
vithika selvarajah
vithika selvarajah
19:27 27 Apr 24
I was recommended to Maverick Legal Servoces and in particular to ask for Todd and the person who recommended me was highly adamant on me not going anywhere else but to the best. Let me just say this, i could not be any happier with the job Todd did on my case. Extremely professional, and he gets to work right away. Todd got my case withdrawn and dropped and there was no better result then that. Initially i did not even think that was an option. I thought it was going to cost me thousands as xcopper had told me. Turns out i saved a lot of money and i highly highly recommend you go to Todd and Maverick Legal Services. When i went to xcopper and they told me they would get them to give me a lesser charge and that would be best case scenario, boy am i glad i was recommended to Todd. The retainer fee is most certainly worth it and i know if anything arises in the future i will be back and if anyone i know needs legal services, Todd and Maverick will be my one and only recommendation if you want the best person to handle your case. Thanks again Todd.read more
Khanish Kumar
Khanish Kumar
19:57 19 Jul 24
Listen up folks, Todd Brown from Mavericks Legal Services makes miracles happen.I was pulled over in January of 2023 for speeding and got hit with 4 tickets in one stop. Going in I thought that the best case scenario for me was that the 3 additional tickets would be dropped and the speeding would stick, but Todd was able to get all 4 of my tickets completely dropped.I highly recommend him to anybody that needs help fighting a ticket.
Filip Drozd
Filip Drozd
05:33 04 Oct 24
My experience with Todd was excellent. Not only was he incredibly knowledgeable regarding each of my questions for the duration we worked together he was also quick to respond and effectively helped me to get results we were looking for. I would recommend him any time, over and over again.
Magdalena Giles
Magdalena Giles
18:31 20 Nov 24