SHORTCUTS – What You Need To Know Now
Aurora
AuroraAurora is 50 km north of Toronto and is known for its scenic views, beautiful landmarks, rich culture, affordable cost of living, and so much more. Its population, based on the 2016 census, is 55,445 people.
A few great people have walked the grounds of Aurora. Lester Bowles “Mike” Pearson, the 14th president of Canada, was born in Aurora and other known persons such as Robert Thomas, a 2019 Stanley cup winner, and cross-country skier Brian Stemmle are from this town.
Like many other towns and cities, Aurora is also home to Yonge Street. It is one of the oldest and longest streets in Ontario. It can take you north to Cook’s Bay or south to Toronto’s Harbourfront.
As for its economic status, Aurora has over 1300 businesses and is growing. It is a solid entrepreneurial community supporting many small and growing businesses. Transit and road systems make it great for companies to stay connected with their clients.
Some significant landmarks in the area are Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora Cultural Society, Sheppard’s Bush Conservation Area, and Hillary House National Historic Site.
The Impacts of Distracted Driving
The Impacts of Distracted DrivingYork Region is comprised of so many cities and towns, and each of them offers something unique. Those commuting in, out, or around this region, typically do so by car. However, travelling by car has its risks for drivers and pedestrians. One of the most impactful actions is distracted driving.
According to the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), police have stated that distracted driving is more problematic than impaired driving as it has caused more collisions. Consequently, York Regional Police resorted to riding York Region Transit (YRT) buses to catch drivers operating their vehicles distractedly. The actions they were looking for included the following:
- Texting and driving
- Eating or drinking
- Applying makeup
- Reading
- Fiddling with the car’s radio
- Using a smartwatch
- Using a tablet or any other device
Overall, the expectation was for drivers to focus on driving solely.
As a result, 311 tickets were issued by police during their YRT initiative while riding the buses for 81 hours. In 2016, a total of 4,586 distracted driving tickets were issued to drivers in York Region.
Which Other Offences Are Common in York Region?
In Ontario, overall, there are several traffic offences that are considered to be quite common. These offences are:
- Speeding
- Driving without a permit
- Disobeying traffic signs
- No proof of insurance
Of course, other traffic violation cases are also heard by the courts, but these are the ones that are heard most frequently.
One of the most problematic offences is speeding. In 2020, especially during the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a surge of speeding incidents across the York Region and neighbouring towns.
Empty roads were said to be the causative factor. Various news articles such as this one titled 9 cars impounded overnight in York Region for stunt driving: police, highlighted the issue of increased speeding on empty roadways.
Other traffic offences such as driving without a permit are also common here.
Aitken Robertson Can Defend Against Traffic Violations in Aurora
In Aurora, traffic offences are common occurrences. If you have received a traffic ticket in Aurora, there are options available. By seeking the services of a paralegal at Aitken Robertson, we can help you to fight the charges, ensuring that a suitable outcome is achieved and potential consequences are mitigated.
Stunt Driving
Stunt Driving As elsewhere, in Aurora, stunt driving commonly refers to driving 50km/h over the posted speed limit. However, it can also include various other stunts such as performing doughnuts, wheelies, chasing another vehicle, and other actions. The penalties for stunt driving include vehicle impoundment, fines, and possibly jail time.
Speeding + Minor Infractions
As discussed above, speeding is one of the most common traffic offences. As in the rest of Ontario, speeding in Aurora is the act of driving a vehicle over the posted speed limit.
Minor infractions include failing to stop at a stop sign, improper lane changes, running a red light, and driving without a seatbelt. The consequences related to these offences may include fines, and other penalties such as licence suspensions, depending on the amount of points already existing on the licence, and what type of licence it is. For example, convictions of running a red light and then not wearing a seatbelt a month apart will get a G2 driver suspended for 30 days.
Careless Driving
As elsewhere, careless driving in Aurora is the act of operating a vehicle “without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway.” The consequences of careless driving may include fines, licence suspension for up to two years, imprisonment, and other penalties.
Driving with a Hand-Held Device
In Aurora driving with a hand-held communication or entertainment device is a form of distracted driving. It includes acts such as using a mobile phone, tablet, or any other device while operating a vehicle. Driving with a hand-held device is a traffic violation because using a technological device while driving is identified as a hazard.
Driving Without Insurance
Driving without insurance in Aurora and throughout Ontario is a common traffic violation. The consequences of failing to provide proof of valid automobile insurance upon request can include extremely high fines, and a driver’s licence suspension of up to a year.
Driving with a Suspended Licence
Driving with a suspended licence in Aurora and elsewhere in Ontario will be subject to penalties. The penalties for this offence include high fines and additional driver’s licence suspensions. Drivers caught driving with suspended licences may in some circumstances also be charged with the criminal offence of Operation While Prohibited (sometimes referred to as Driving While Disqualified).
NO SURPRISE Fee Quote Guarantee
We understand that when you face a traffic charge or another provincial offence, it is a time of great uncertainty. You face options, important decisions, and possible real changes in your life. At Aitken Robertson we are proud to offer you something that you can count on; our NO SURPRISE fixed quote guarantee. We have been doing this a long time, and know what goes into an effective defence at each stage of the process. We don’t bill by the hour or for travel, which makes the overall cost very predictable and ensures cost-certainty for you. So count on this—if we quote you a price, you will not pay more!
Convictions and Insurance
Traffic convictions can have a very negative effect on your insurance premiums, and even your ability to remain insured. Insurance companies are free to set their own policies on such things, but most of them use a scale that increases the premium multiplier with the severity of the conviction. This scale rates convictions as: “minor,” ”major,” and “serious.” Some minor convictions will have a little to no effect on your insurance, while the major and serious convictions will have a large effect for sure.
All types of convictions will be considered by your insurer for several years, so a minor conviction now and a minor conviction later may cause a pain in your pocket. Although other factors must be considered, at Aitken Robertson we will listen to you and take your goals into account when planning your defence. And then when we break it down, we might find that you may not be in as much trouble as you think!
Demerit Points
When speaking to many valued clients, we have come to realize that some have a misconception about demerit points and their effect on insurance and the ability to drive. Insurance companies don’t really look at demerit points when they funnel you into either the mutual or the high-risk market (i.e. low-cost vs. high-cost market). It is the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) that cares very much about demerit points, and if you accumulate too many in a given period, you could end up getting your licence suspended. Some violations come with zero demerit points, and some come with as many as seven. Also, your level of licence (G or G2 for example) will dictate how many demerit points you can accumulate before entering the danger zone in which your licence is at risk.
Call us today to learn more about the difference between minor, major, and serious convictions, as well as the effect of demerit points on your ability to drive.
How Do I Fight a Traffic Ticket in Aurora?
How Do I Fight a Traffic Ticket in Aurora?If you have received a traffic ticket in Aurora, you don’t have to settle for just paying the fine. Instead, you can challenge the ticket in court.
At Aitken Robertson, we are committed to helping you fight the chargesTM. We offer free consultations to obtain a better understanding of your situation and to discuss the circumstances surrounding it.
Should you decide to accept our services, we work hard to get you the best shot at winning your trial. Leading up to your court date, we take the time to gather all essential evidence to build a strong case.
Our goal is to make our services accessible to everyone. Hence, we offer a block fee billing method and payment options such as e-transfer, is an option which is consistent with social distancing procedures. Are you looking to fight a traffic ticket in Aurora? Call our office to schedule a free consultation.
Court Information for Traffic Violations in Aurora
If you receive a traffic ticket in Aurora, you may be requested to attend one of these two courthouses. Your case may be heard at 50 High Tech Rd in Richmond Hill or 17150 Yonge St in Newmarket.
The hours of operation at each courthouse are slightly different. Richmond Hill’s court hours are from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday. In Newmarket, the court hours are from 8:30 am – 4 pm.
Due to COVID-19, appointments must be booked online or by telephone for all court services, including requesting a trial. More information here. Your trial may be held online. Once booked, further information will be provided verifying the details of your trial.
If you choose to drive to any of these courthouses, there are parking spaces available on site. However, there are also offsite parking spaces to consider.
Parking
For the Richmond Hill location specifically, the following parking options are available:
Food
Depending on how long your trial takes at any of these courthouses, you may be given a break. If you are feeling hungry during this time, here are some food places to try. These places are close to the Richmond Hill courthouse:
- Sunnyside Grill, offering breakfast and lunch options such as waffles, sandwiches and more
- SOFRAM Richmond Hill, serving Mediterranean foods such as falafel, lamb shish kebob and more
- Chef Burger and Breakfast, providing Persian sandwiches, burgers, etc.
In Newmarket, these restaurants are a must-try within the area:
- Guacamole Mexican Bistro, chicken tostadas, nachos, and pozole chico are just some of the dishes offered
- Let’s Be Frank Italian Eatery, offering Italian foods such as chicken parmesan, Florentina pizza, ti amo pizza, lasagna and many other dishes
- Com Pho Asia, Vietnamese restaurant offering foods such as pho, spring rolls, deep fried chicken wings, and vermicelli chicken soup
