practice area
Dangerous Operation Lawyers Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
If you were charged with dangerous operation in the Greater Toronto Area, contact a GTA criminal lawyer.
Defending You Against the Dangerous Operation Charge in the GTA
Dangerous operation is a serious criminal offence that can result in jail time and other life-long consequences. If you live in the Greater Toronto Area or anywhere in Ontario, you could also be charged with a provincial offence of “careless driving.”
Either way, you should speak with an experienced criminal lawyer to protect your rights and avoid the penalties associated with the dangerous operation or careless driving offence in Ontario. Contact our GTA dangerous operation lawyers at Lawyers From The Six to get a great outcome in your criminal case.
What is the dangerous operation charge?
Pursuant to Section 320.13 of the Criminal Code of Canada, dangerous operation is a criminal offence under federal jurisdiction. The full name of the criminal offence is “dangerous operation of a conveyance.”
Under Canadian law, the term “conveyance” refers to any motor vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or railway equipment. You could face the dangerous operation charge if you were operating a motor vehicle or another conveyance “in a manner dangerous to the public,” considering all the circumstances.
The Crown must prove that your degree of care when operating the vehicle deviated from the standard of care that any reasonable person would observe under the same circumstances.
If you were charged with careless driving, a provincial criminal offence in Ontario, you could face additional penalties for dangerous operation in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
What are the penalties for dangerous operation?
If convicted of dangerous operation pursuant to Section 320.13 of the Criminal Code, you could face the following penalties:
- 1. Up to two years’ less a day if the offence is a summary conviction; or
- 2. Up to 10 years if guilty of an indictable offence.
However, you will face a greater punishment if charged with dangerous operation that causes bodily harm or death:
- Bodily harm. If someone was injured due to your dangerous operation of a conveyance, you could face incarceration for up to 14 years (indictment) or two years’ less a day (summary conviction) in addition to fines. The severity of the punishment also depends on whether it’s your first, second, or subsequent offence.
- Death. The minimum penalties are the same as for dangerous operation causing bodily injury upon conviction. The maximum penalty, however, is life imprisonment.
In addition to incarceration and fines, you could face a suspension of a driver’s licence, increased insurance premiums rates, probation, and other penalties. Other forms of punishment may apply if you were found guilty of careless driving in Ontario:
- A fine of up to $2,000.00
- A 6-month suspension of a driver’s licence
- Six months in jail
- Loss of employment for commercial drivers
Schedule a free initial consultation with our dangerous operation lawyers at Lawyers From The Six to review your case and help you fight the charges, clear your record, and avoid the penalties.
