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Dangerous Driving Lawyers Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
If you were charged with dangerous driving in the Greater Toronto Area, contact a GTA criminal lawyer right away.
Defending You Against the Dangerous Driving Charge in the GTA
Dangerous driving, also known as dangerous operation, is a serious criminal driving charge in Canada. However, it may be possible to avoid the harsh penalties associated with the offence of dangerous driving in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) by finding the right defence strategy.
Consult with our dangerous driving lawyers at Lawyers From The Six to pick to defend the criminal charges in your particular case. Our criminal lawyers will review your unique situation to determine how you can defend yourself against the dangerous driving charge in the GTA.
What is the dangerous driving charge?
While Section 249 of the Criminal Code about the offence of dangerous driving was repealed in 2018, it was replaced with “Dangerous operation of a conveyance” under Section 320.13.
The repealed version read that a person commits the offence of dangerous driving when they:
- Operate a motor vehicle with a reckless disregard for the safety of others;
- Drive in a manner that poses a danger to the public in a public place; and
- Has the intent to commit the offence.
The current version of the offence titled “dangerous operation” reads that a person can be found guilty when they operate an automobile, vessel, boat, or any other conveyance in a way that poses a danger to the public.
What are the penalties for dangerous driving?
When repealing Section 249 of the Criminal Code, Canadian legislators also increased the penalties for dangerous driving. Before the amendments to Canada’s Criminal Code, people charged with dangerous driving faced the following penalties:
- If indicted, up to five years in jail (or a maximum penalty of 10 or 14 years if the defendant’s dangerous driving caused bodily injury or death, respectively); or
- A fine of up to $5,000.00 if charged with the summary conviction offence.
Penalties for dangerous operation pursuant to Section 320.13 include:
- Up to ten years in jail upon indictment; or
- Up to two years’ less a day for a summary conviction.
Depending on the circumstances of the offence, other types of punishment for the dangerous operation charge include:
- Probation
- A suspension of a driver’s licence for up to 10 years
- DNA order
- Forfeiture of the vehicle
- Restitution order
If you were charged with driving dangerously in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), contact our criminal lawyers at Lawyers From The Six to fight the charge. Our dangerous driving lawyers have years of experience in defending clients charged with dangerous driving in the GTA. Call 647-830-3083 to talk about your case.