During the pandemic we have experienced many changes in our daily routines adjusting to each day as changes progressed. During the peak of the pandemic, it became apparent that only essential businesses remain open in an effort to curb a spike in the spread of the virus. This resulted in many non-essential businesses closing until further notice while businesses that were deemed essential reduced hours significantly or turned many of their services online to remove the need to visit a physical location.
Service Ontario was among many essential businesses that turned many services online, removing the need to visit the location all together. For example, you may renew your driver’s license, health card, or even your license plate sticker to name a few of the online services you can now do online and skip visiting an office.
What if you can’t use the online service?
In case you are not able to utilize the online service, you are still asked to not visit a location in person. The Ministry of Transportation has stated that there will be no penalty for failing to renew prior to your expiry date if the date falls on or after March 1, 2020. Products that expired on our after this date are extended until further notice. However, if you are able to renew your documents online, we recommend doing so to avoid an unnecessary traffic stop.
Police are still giving out tickets!; Why?
The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has told all drivers to remain calm regarding any expired documents as they will not face any penalty if the renewal fell on or after March 1, 2020. However, the police still remain to pull drivers over and charge them with the offence of “Drive Motor Vehicle – No Currently Validated Permit” – A charge that despite carrying 0 demerit points will have an impact on your insurance premiums and remain on your driving record for 3 years.
In York Region, there are over 900 instances of this charge being laid during the pandemic when they should not have. Thankfully the charges are now under review, but there is a problem to address. Despite a directive from the Ministry overseeing our road safety in Ontario and the police clearly being made aware of the policy change, they continue to enforce the law with their own set of rules. Here is a piece directly from the from the recent news story covered by www.yorkregion.ca.
“The issue came to light in early August, when a young man went to the media with concerns over a $110 ticket he’d been issued by a York police officer, who noticed his vehicle permit sticker on his license plate had expired.
The problem is, of course, that the Ministry of Transportation told all Ontarians at the beginning of COVID-19 outbreak that tickets should not be issued for this offence so as not to overload Service Ontario centres.
Despite York police saying all its officers were advised of the shift in policy and given new direction, there appears to have still been some confusion, as seen by the number of tickets handed out at the height of the pandemic.”
What to do if you have been charged with “Drive Motor Vehicle – No Currently Validated Permit”?
If you have received a traffic ticket, I strongly recommend getting a free consultation from our office.
Do You Need To Defend Yourself Against An Ontario Traffic Ticket?
If you need to defend your driving rights against an Ontario traffic ticket you should contact us as soon as possible. We have skill and experience in helping drivers just like you respond to a variety of traffic tickets and provide free, confidential consultations to empower you to fight your charges. We help drivers throughout Ontario including Cambridge, Georgetown, London, Windsor and from our home office in Kitchener. Contact us online or call us directly at 1.844.647.6869 or text us a copy of your ticket to 226-240-2480.