What is Driving While Suspended?
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Driving while suspended means operating a motor vehicle on a highway while your driver’s licence is suspended under an Act of the Legislature or a regulation made thereunder.
Driving while suspended (Ontario Highway Traffic Act, s. 53) is treated as a very serious offence because it shows willful disregard for court orders or Ministry suspensions, putting public safety at risk.
Mandatory licence suspension: an additional 6 months suspension on top of your existing suspension (running consecutively).
First offence fine range: $1,000–$5,000 minimum fine (before mandatory surcharges/costs).
Subsequent offence fine range (within 5 years): $2,000–$5,000 (before mandatory surcharges/costs).
Jail time (on conviction): up to 6 months in jail, or both fine and jail.
Vehicle impoundment: your vehicle will be impounded for 7 days at roadside; courts may also order up to 3 months vehicle impoundment.
No demerit points: there are no demerit points for this offence, but a conviction appears on your driver’s abstract and will significantly impact insurance rates.
Insurance consequences: expect insurance rates to increase, with some insurers canceling your policy entirely.
