How Much Is a Red Light Ticket in Ontario?

How much is a red light ticket in Ontario? This is a question that many people are asking, and for a good reason. The fines for running a red light can be pretty costly. Stick around to learn more about the cost of red light tickets in Ontario and some ways you can reduce your chances of getting one.

How Much Is a Red Light Ticket in Ontario?

As of January 1, 2010, the red light ticket fine in Ontario costs $325. This price remains the same regardless if a police officer charges a driver with a red light ticket, or a red light camera has issued the ticket. Once you pay your fine, the amount is split between the province and municipality where the incident occurred.

Compared to a speeding ticket, the price of a red light ticket in Ontario is much higher. In fact, drivers in Ontario will typically get a $52.20 fine for driving over 15 km over the limit.

Types of Red Light Tickets in Ontario

Drivers can be charged with a red light ticket in two ways. Traditionally, a police officer will write you a ticket if they spot you running a red light in Ontario. However, the province has introduced a different way to catch vehicle owners crossing at a red light by installing cameras. Let’s take a look at the differences:

Police-issued Red Light Tickets

In this case, a police officer must witness the violation in order to charge a driver. The officer will then pull the driver over and issue them a ticket.

This ticket type is called an offence notice and will have the amount you owe listed on it. You will also be required to appear in court if you wish to dispute the ticket.

Red Light Camera Tickets

If you are caught running a red light by a camera, you will be mailed a notice of violation. This ticket does not require you to appear in court, but it is important to note that you only have 15 days to pay the red light camera ticket fine or dispute the ticket.

Red light camera tickets were introduced as an effort to stop drivers from running a red light. You can find them at intersections with high traffic volume or high accident rates. If a vehicle crosses at a red light, a camera will take a photo of it and its license plate. 

Then, a police officer will inspect the photos and confirm whether or not the driver has run a red light. Next, the Ministry of Transportation will issue a ticket to the registered vehicle owner.

You won’t receive a ticket if you are already in the intersection when the light turns red or cross at a yellow light.

Red Light Camera Locations in Ontario

Red light cameras are located at high-risk intersections across the province. 

To find out if there is a camera at an intersection, look for signs that say “photo enforcement ahead” or “red light cameras in use.”

Right now, there are over 300 you can find red light cameras at over 300 locations in Ontario. Most of them are located in highly-populated areas of the GTA. For instance, a red light camera would be a common occurrence in Toronto, Brampton, or Mississauga. Other regions include:

• Ottawa
• Waterloo Region
• Peel Region
• London
• Kitchener
• Sudbury
• Hamilton

If you live in a smaller Canadian town, there’s a lower possibility of encountering a red light camera.

How Do Red Light Tickets Affect Insurance?

While regular speeding tickets are classified as major driving convictions, red light camera tickets are considered moving violations. This is why a red light camera ticket won’t be added to your driving record. Consequently, your insurance rate will also be unaffected.

However, contacting your insurer would be a good idea to ensure your rate remains the same. 

What’s more, drivers who receive a red light ticket won’t get any demerit points. So, there’s no chance of your license being suspended.

Can You Fight a Red Light Ticket in Ontario?

Per the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, drivers can fight a red light ticket in court. It’s not uncommon for an officer issuing the ticket or an administrator who processed it to make a mistake.

For instance, the camera software can misread or mix up license plates, or an officer can fail to complete a ticket correctly. In both cases, a ticket can get dismissed completely. 

In other cases, you can argue whether or not the camera was functioning properly or if the police officer was in a position where he could visibly notice that you ran a red light.

How to Avoid Getting a Red Light Ticket in Ontario?

There are a few things that you can do to avoid getting a red light ticket in Ontario. First, it is essential to be aware of the locations of red light cameras. You can find a list of these locations on the Ministry of Transportation website.

It is also important to make sure that you are not driving distracted. This means no texting, talking on the phone, or eating while driving. If you are focused on the road, you will be more likely to notice a red light and be able to stop in time.

Finally, always give yourself enough time to get to your destination. You may be more likely to run a red light if you are rushing to get somewhere.

If you follow these tips, you will be less likely to get a red light ticket in Ontario. However, if you do receive one, remember that you have options for dealing with it.

Finishing Thoughts

We hope this blog post has helped answer some of your questions about red light tickets in Ontario. Remember, if you do get a ticket, you have the option to fight it in court. And, even if you don’t win, your insurance rates won’t be affected.