Provincial offences and traffic
Traffic ticket and provincial offences paralegal in Toronto and Ontario
A traffic ticket or other provincial offence can affect your licence, your insurance, and your record. Eli Penner is a licensed Ontario paralegal who represents people in Provincial Offences Court in the Ontario Court of Justice. He is based in North York, Toronto, and assists clients in the GTA and across the province.
Provincial offences include many Highway Traffic Act matters — such as speeding, seatbelt, and other moving or document-related tickets — as well as some municipal by-law matters and other charges brought under the Provincial Offences Act. These are not the same as criminal charges. This page is only about provincial offences. If your matter is a criminal charge, Eli cannot take it on through this practice, and you should get advice from someone who can.
Deadlines on tickets are often short. For many Ontario offence notices, you generally have 15 days from the day you receive the ticket to choose an option, including requesting a trial or, in some cases, meeting with the prosecutor. Check the deadline and the instructions on your own notice, because some tickets follow a different process. If you do nothing, you can be convicted in your absence. If a deadline is close, or has just passed, contact Eli right away and have the ticket with you. This is general information, not advice about your ticket.
How a paralegal can help
Under Law Society of Ontario By-Law 4, a licensed paralegal may represent a party in a proceeding under the Provincial Offences Act before the Ontario Court of Justice. That includes giving advice, preparing documents, negotiating where appropriate, and appearing at trial. Eli can review the ticket or summons, explain the options on the notice, and represent you in court where a paralegal may appear.
Some appeals of provincial offences matters are also heard in the Ontario Court of Justice. Appeals that proceed in the Superior Court of Justice or the Divisional Court generally require a lawyer. If your matter needs to go to a court where a paralegal may not appear, Eli will tell you so.
What to do if you have a court date
If you already have a court date, or you have received a summons, get in touch as soon as you can so there is time to review the charge and any disclosure. Bring the ticket or notice, and any other papers the court has sent you. Please do not send confidential documents until Eli has confirmed that he can take on your matter.
Outcomes vary. A trial, a resolution discussion, or a plea to a different count may or may not be available or advisable, depending on the facts and the charge. Eli will not guarantee that a ticket will be withdrawn, reduced, or dismissed. He will explain the process plainly so you can decide how to proceed.
Working with Eli
You work directly with Eli. He can also work with clients in Hebrew. If you are dealing with something else at the same time — for example, a related Small Claims issue — mention it when you contact him.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to respond to a traffic ticket in Ontario?
For many Ontario offence notices, you generally have 15 days from the day you receive the ticket to choose an option, including requesting a trial. Check the deadline and instructions on your notice, because some tickets follow a different process. If you do nothing, you can be convicted in your absence. If you are close to a deadline, contact Eli right away.
Can a paralegal represent me on a traffic ticket or other provincial offence?
Yes. A licensed Ontario paralegal may represent a person in a proceeding under the Provincial Offences Act before the Ontario Court of Justice. That includes many traffic tickets and other provincial offences, and some appeals that are heard in that court. Appeals that proceed in the Superior Court of Justice or the Divisional Court generally require a lawyer.
What if I have already missed the deadline on the ticket?
There can sometimes be a way to ask the court to deal with a missed deadline or a conviction entered in your absence, but that depends on the circumstances and the type of ticket. Do not assume it is too late, and do not assume it can always be fixed. Call Eli and have the ticket or notice in front of you.
Will I work directly with Eli, and can we speak in Hebrew?
Yes. Clients work directly with Eli. He is based in North York, Toronto, and assists people in the Greater Toronto Area and across Ontario. He is fluent in English and Hebrew.
Have you received a ticket, a summons, or a court date?
Call or email Eli as soon as you can. You will reach him directly.