What are the penalties for disobeying a stop sign in Ontario?

A stop sign ticket carries a set fine of about $160 with surcharge and costs, and 3 demerit points on conviction.

Can you fight a stop sign ticket in Ontario?

Yes. These charges often turn on disputed observation — whether the vehicle stopped and the officer's vantage point — and frequently resolve at Early Resolution with a reduced or non-demerit outcome.

How does a stop sign ticket affect your insurance?

A conviction typically raises premiums by roughly 5–15% for three years; avoiding the demerit points is what keeps it off your record.

Highway Traffic Act s.136

Disobey Stop Sign charges in Ontario.

Quick Answer

A stop sign ticket in Ontario carries 3 demerit points and an insurance surcharge at renewal. Many stop sign charges involve disputed observations — whether the vehicle came to a complete stop, and how long the officer observed the intersection. These fact-specific issues make stop sign tickets among the more defensible minor traffic charges.

Failure to come to a full and complete stop at a stop sign. Three demerit points and an insurance impact — defendable on signage visibility, the officer's vantage point, and identification.

Charge: Highway Traffic Act s.136
Jurisdiction: All of Ontario
Consultation: Free & Confidential

i.

What the charge means

Section 136 of the Highway Traffic Act requires every driver approaching a stop sign to come to a full stop at the marked stop line, the crosswalk, or immediately before entering the intersection. A 'rolling stop' is not a stop within the meaning of the section.

ii.

Penalties

Set fine of $110 plus victim fine surcharge and court costs (approximately $160 total). 3 demerit points on conviction. Insurance impact is typically a 5–15% increase for three years.

iii.

Available defences

Officer's view of the stop line was obstructed
The vehicle did come to a complete stop, however brief
Sign visibility (obscured by foliage, weather, or another vehicle)
Identification of the driver
Charter — unlawful stop or detention

iv.

The process

Provincial Offences Court. Most matters resolve at Early Resolution with a reduction in fine or to a non-demerit offence.

Common Questions

What are the penalties for disobeying a stop sign in Ontario?: A stop sign ticket carries a set fine of about $160 with surcharge and costs, and 3 demerit points on conviction.
Can you fight a stop sign ticket in Ontario?: Yes. These charges often turn on disputed observation — whether the vehicle stopped and the officer's vantage point — and frequently resolve at Early Resolution with a reduced or non-demerit outcome.
How does a stop sign ticket affect your insurance?: A conviction typically raises premiums by roughly 5–15% for three years; avoiding the demerit points is what keeps it off your record.

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