If you answered 'true' to any of the questions you probably need POINTTS' help with your traffic ticket!

Here are the reasons for the answers:

1. There are many reasons why a police officer may not show up in court and if the Prosecution asks for an adjournment to another day you will have to know how to argue against that request.

2. There are only a few areas on a traffic ticket where a mistake will result in the case being dismissed or quashed and a misspelled name or wrong plate number are not any of them.

3. The radar device is sensitive and accurate, however, it has to be tested and operated according to a strict set of rules and procedures and you will have to be very familiar with those rules in order to know, first, if they have been followed and, second, what argument to make if you can show they were not followed.

4. The Prosecution has to have the permission of the Court to enter your statement into evidence. If your statement shows that you accept responsibility or guilt for the incident you will probably want to have the statement excluded from your trial, however, you will have to know what arguments to make to ensure that the statement is excluded.

5. As a result of POINTTS' efforts and legal battles with Law Societies in Canada, the citizens of Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario are entitled to be represented in traffic court by an Agent as well as a lawyer. The advantage of a POINTTS' agent is not only cost but also the fact that POINTTS' Agents have had a wealth of experience as Police Officers or Justices of the Peace (traffic court Judges) prior to joining the company. That experience has benefited hundreds of thousands of Canadian drivers.


6 . Police Officers may issue tickets even when wearing civilian clothes.

7. Police Officers may issue tickets anywhere in the Province in which they were sworn in as Constables. RCMP Officers may issue tickets anywhere in Canada.

8. A '24 or 48 hour report' may be given solely at the discretion of the issuing officer. The offence is committed when the documents are not produced on demand or the vehicle is being operated on a highway with defective equipment.

9. Only the mechanic may present the report which s/he prepared.

10.The important word here is 'guilty'. When you enter this plea you are pleading guilty to the offence and the 'explanation' is usually the reason why you committed the offence. Sometimes this 'explanation' may be a defence. Be sure to consult with POINTTS before you enter this plea.

11. There is no requirement for the Officer to show you the radar. In most cases it is better not to see the radar reading in case you are asked to repeat it in court.

12. Only the person who took the photographs may enter them as evidence.

13.The Court has to hear the reason for the adjournment and if it is not satisfied with that reason you may be ordered to proceed with your trial on that date.

14. You are required to give certain details about the accident for the information of the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and failure to do so is an offence. It is important that you know what information is required and that you be careful not to incriminate yourself.

15. There are several offences for which you can be arrested and/or sent to jail. If you are in any doubt use our 'get quote' page


The foregoing brief 'quiz' is intended to demonstrate that traffic court is not a comfortable place to be if you do not know the Rules of Evidence or the Procedures which govern the Courts.

When you enter a plea of 'Not Guilty' you are not necessarily saying "I didn't do it" you are saying that you are exercising your right to have the Prosecution prove that you committed the offence, however you are expected to be properly prepared to conduct your defence and as you can see from the answers and explanations above, "Ignorance of the Law is no excuse!"