If you've just been charged with stunt driving in Ontario, you're likely reading this from the side of the road, or shortly after — and you have questions. This post answers them plainly.
What is stunt driving in Ontario?
Stunt driving under the Highway Traffic Act (s.172) and Ontario Regulation 455/07 covers a wider range of conduct than most people realize. Speed is the most common trigger — but far from the only one.
Speed-based triggers:
- 40 km/h or more over the posted limit in a zone of 80 km/h or less (e.g. 100 km/h in a 60 zone)
- 50 km/h or more over the posted limit in a zone above 80 km/h (e.g. 130 km/h on a 100 km/h highway)
- 150 km/h on any road, regardless of the posted limit — an absolute threshold
Non-speed triggers under O. Reg. 455/07:
- Burnouts and tire spin — intentionally causing your tires to lose traction with the road (applies even at low speeds)
- Drifting, donuts, and spinning — intentionally causing the vehicle to rotate or spin
- Wheelies — intentionally lifting one or more tires off the road surface
- Cutting off another driver — moving into another vehicle's path in a way that forces them to brake or swerve
- Aggressive tailgating — following so closely that safe stopping is impossible
- Blocking traffic — preventing another vehicle, cyclist, or pedestrian from passing or exercising right of way
- Street racing and contests — including informal competition; two drivers accelerating from a light or matching speeds can be enough, even without a pre-arranged agreement
- Ghost riding — driving while not seated in the driver's seat
- Passengers in the trunk — carrying a person in any part of the vehicle not designed for passengers
The roadside consequences — the 30-day suspension and 14-day impound — apply regardless of which trigger led to the charge. (For the full breakdown of the charge, see our stunt driving offence page.)
What happens at the roadside — right now
This is what makes stunt driving different from a regular speeding ticket: the consequences begin immediately, before any court appearance.
Your licence is suspended for 30 days. The officer takes your licence at the roadside. You cannot drive home.
Your vehicle is impounded for 14 days. It is towed and held at your expense. Towing and storage fees typically run $1,000–$2,000 before you get the vehicle back.
These roadside consequences apply regardless of what happens in court later. They are administrative — not penalties imposed by a judge — and they are not reversed even if the charge is eventually withdrawn.
What happens in court
After the 30-day suspension and 14-day impound, your matter proceeds to court as a Provincial Offences Act charge. The consequences on conviction are severe:
- Fine: $2,000–$10,000
- Licence suspension on conviction: An additional 1–3 years on a first conviction; 3–10 years on a second
- Insurance impact: Among the worst possible — most insurers treat a stunt driving conviction as a major conviction, with premium increases of 100–300% or more. Some insurers non-renew entirely.
- Demerit points: 6 points on conviction
Is stunt driving defensible?
Yes, in many cases — though the defence depends on what type of stunt charge was laid.
For speed-based charges, the evidence is almost entirely the speed measurement device reading. Speed measurement devices have calibration requirements, certification requirements, and specific procedures officers must follow. If those aren't met in full, the speed evidence can be challenged. Common angles include calibration and certification records, officer training with the specific device, procedural errors in how the measurement was conducted, and Charter motions if the stop or roadside procedure was flawed.
For non-speed behaviour-based charges, the defence is different. Many of the non-speed triggers under O. Reg. 455/07 require proof of intention — the Crown must show you intended to spin the tires, intended to lift the wheels, intended to cut off another driver. Officer observation notes, dashcam footage, and the specific circumstances of the stop are what we examine first. Whether the conduct actually met the legal definition, and whether the officer's observations support the charge, are the central questions.
Not every file has a winning defence, and it would be wrong to promise an outcome before reading the disclosure. But many stunt driving files have a defensible angle — and the only way to know if yours does is to have the disclosure reviewed.
What you should do now
Do not pay the ticket. Payment is a guilty plea. Once paid, the conviction goes on your abstract and there is no reversing it.
Do not miss your court date. Failing to appear creates a separate charge and an automatic conviction on the original matter.
Call early. The earlier we're retained, the sooner we can file appearances, request disclosure, and begin building the defence.
Charged with stunt driving? Have the disclosure reviewed before you do anything else. The first call is free. Call 1-866-647-6468 or book a consultation at pointdutytraffic.com.
— Point Duty Traffic Court Defence & Legal Services
This article is general information about Ontario traffic law and is not legal advice. Penalties, insurance outcomes, and the strength of any defence depend on the specific offence and your circumstances. Speak with a licensed paralegal about your charge.