If you are caught stunt driving on Highway 417 in Ottawa, the police will immediately impound your vehicle for 14 days and suspend your licence for 30 days at the roadside. If convicted in court, you face a minimum $2,000 CAD fine and an automatic 1-to-3 year MTO licence suspension.
Highway 417 (the Queensway) is the main artery running through Ottawa, from Kanata in the west to Orleans in the east. While it is easy to let your speed creep up when traffic is light, doing so can have catastrophic legal consequences. Stunt driving in Ontario is not just a standard speeding ticket; it is one of the most severe offences under the Highway Traffic Act, designed to harshly penalize aggressive driving.
Many drivers are shocked to learn that you do not have to be street racing or doing “donuts” to be charged with stunt driving. 🚗 Simply driving 40 km/h over the limit on roads where the speed limit is under 80 km/h, 50 km/h over the limit on highways like the 417, or travelling at a speed of 150 km/h or more on any Ontario road regardless of the posted limit (under O. Reg. 455/07), triggers this charge. If you find yourself in this situation, speaking with an experienced traffic ticket law firm is critical to saving your driving privileges.
Step-by-Step Process in Ottawa
A stunt driving charge initiates an immediate administrative penalty at the roadside, long before you ever see a judge. Here is what will happen from the moment you see the flashing police lights on the Queensway.
Step 1: The Roadside Seizure
The moment the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) or Ottawa Police Service pull you over and confirm your speed meets the stunt driving threshold, you will be asked to step out of the vehicle. 👮 The officer will seize your driver’s licence on the spot, imposing an immediate 30-day administrative suspension. You are now legally forbidden from driving.
Step 2: The 14-Day Vehicle Impoundment
Regardless of who owns the vehicle, the police will call a tow truck to haul your car to a local impound lot. Under Ontario law, the vehicle must be impounded for exactly 14 days. You cannot get it out early, even if it is a rental car or belongs to your employer. You will have to find your own way home from the side of the highway.
Step 3: Paying Reinstatement and Impound Fees
After 14 days, you or a fully licensed friend must visit the impound lot, pay all towing and storage fees, and retrieve the vehicle. 💰 After 30 days, you must visit ServiceOntario and pay a reinstatement fee to restore your licence temporary validity until court. Importantly, if you are convicted of stunt driving, you are legally required under the MOMS Act (O. Reg. 340/94) to complete an MTO-approved Driver Improvement Course before your licence can be fully reinstated. Failure to complete this course will block your licence reinstatement indefinitely.
Step 4: Attending Provincial Offences Court
A stunt driving charge comes with a mandatory court summons. You cannot simply pay a fine online and be done with it. You or your lawyer must appear at the Ottawa Provincial Offences Court, located at 100 Constellation Drive, to answer the charge before a Justice of the Peace.
How Much Does it Cost in Ottawa?
Stunt driving is arguably the most expensive provincial traffic offence you can commit in Canada. As of June 2026, even if you avoid a conviction, the roadside penalties alone will cost you thousands of dollars.
- Towing and Impound Fees: A 14-day mandatory impoundment in Ottawa typically costs between $1,000 and $1,500 CAD, depending on the towing company.
- Licence Reinstatement: ServiceOntario charges a $281 CAD fee to lift the 30-day roadside suspension.
- Court Fines: If convicted, the mandatory minimum fine is $2,000 CAD, but it can legally range up to $10,000 CAD.
- Driver Retraining Course: Under the 2026 rules, drivers convicted of stunt driving must complete a mandatory rehabilitation course (which comes with additional registration fees) before MTO will reinstate their licence.
- Lawyer Fees: Retaining a legal team to fight a stunt driving charge usually costs between $3,000 and $6,000+ CAD.
- Insurance Increases: If convicted, standard insurers will drop you. You will be forced into high-risk “Facility” insurance, which can cost $5,000 to $10,000+ CAD annually for up to three years.
How Long Does the Process Take?
While the roadside penalties are immediate, resolving the actual charge in the Ottawa court system requires patience. 🕑 Court backlogs mean your case will linger for months.
| Phase of the Process | Estimated Timeline |
|---|---|
| Immediate Impoundment | Exactly 14 days |
| Roadside Licence Suspension | Exactly 30 days |
| First Court Appearance | Usually scheduled 4 to 8 weeks after the ticket |
| MTO Administrative Suspension (If Convicted) | 1 to 3 years for a first offence (applied automatically by the MTO upon conviction) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does a stunt driving charge give me a criminal record?
No. Stunt driving is a strict liability offence under the provincial Highway Traffic Act, not the federal Criminal Code. It will severely damage your driving record and insurance rates, but it will not result in a criminal record.
Can the police impound a rental car?
Yes. The law requires the vehicle driven during the offence to be impounded for 14 days, regardless of ownership. The rental company will be notified, and they will likely charge your credit card for the impound fees and loss of use.
Can I go to jail for stunt driving?
Yes. A Justice of the Peace has the authority to sentence a driver to up to 6 months in provincial jail for stunt driving, although jail time is generally rare for first-time offenders without aggravating factors.
Can a lawyer get my charge reduced to regular speeding?
It is possible. An experienced lawyer can review the police disclosure (such as radar calibration records) and negotiate with the municipal prosecutor to potentially reduce the stunt driving charge down to a standard speeding ticket.
How many demerit points is stunt driving?
A stunt driving conviction carries 6 demerit points. However, the demerit points are often the least of your worries compared to the mandatory 1-to-3-year licence suspension and massive insurance hikes.
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