Traffic tickets go through Provincial Offences Court — a civil proceeding with its own rules, timelines, and procedures. Here is how it works.
Provincial Offences Court is not criminal court
Traffic tickets in Ontario are prosecuted under the Provincial Offences Act, not the Criminal Code. This is a lower-stakes proceeding than criminal court, but the outcomes still affect your licence, demerit points, and insurance.
The prosecutor is a Crown attorney or municipal prosecutor. The presiding officer is a Justice of the Peace, not a judge.
The typical timeline
After filing a Notice of Intention to Appear, your first date is set for a First Appearance meeting with the prosecutor. This is an informal negotiation — not a trial. Most matters resolve here.
If no resolution is reached, a trial date is set. Trials can take 6–12 months to reach, during which time disclosure is reviewed and defence strategy is developed.
- File response to ticket: within 15 days of offence date.
- First Appearance: typically 2–4 months after filing.
- Trial (if needed): typically 6–12 months after First Appearance.
How a paralegal helps at every stage
Bridge Legal Services handles everything from filing your response to attending court on your behalf. For standard HTA matters, you usually do not need to appear in person at all. We negotiate with the prosecutor, review disclosure, and advise you on any offers before accepting.