Camera tickets and officer-issued red light tickets work very differently. Understanding the distinction can save you demerit points and insurance grief.
Camera tickets: owner liability, no demerit points
Red light camera tickets in Ontario are issued to the registered owner of the vehicle, not the driver. Because ownership is not driving, these tickets carry no demerit points and do not affect your driving record or insurance directly.
The fine is typically $325 plus a victim surcharge. You can dispute it, but grounds are narrow — mainly proving you were not the owner or that the vehicle was stolen.
Officer-issued red light tickets: 3 demerit points
A police officer who witnesses you run a red light can issue a ticket under section 144(18) of the Highway Traffic Act. This ticket carries 3 demerit points and directly affects your insurance upon conviction.
Many officer-issued red light matters turn on whether the officer had a clear line of sight, whether the light was still amber as you entered, and the precision of their notes.
Fighting the officer-issued ticket
We review disclosure including the officer’s notes, intersection diagrams, and any available video. Many red light matters resolve as amber-signal-related — reducing demerit points significantly or eliminating them entirely.