Ontario driver’s license revoked for traffic violation 13 years ago

An Ontario driver was shocked when she received a letter in the mail informing her that her driver’s license had been revoked due to a traffic ticket she received 13 years ago.

“My driver’s license was suspended for not paying a fine,” said Christine Coldwell of Mississauga.

Coldwell said she remembers getting the ticket for making a wrong turn in Toronto, and as an accountant she keeps all her records for 10 years, but because the ticket is 13 years old, she can’t prove whether or not she paid it.

“I don’t deny that I got a ticket in 2011, I know that, but I’m pretty sure I paid it,” Coldwell said.

If you receive a traffic ticket, your driver’s license may be suspended and you will be sent a reminder to ServiceOntario to pay.

But Coldwell said that despite numerous interactions with ServiceOntario over the years, including renewing her driver’s license and license plates, there was never any mention of an outstanding fine.

“I renewed my license or changed my address five times, and in the 13 years since then it (the ticket) hasn’t been there,” she said.

Coldwell was told that to get her license back, she would have to pay a fine of $115, a late payment fee of $49, and a license reinstatement fee of $281, for a total of $445.

“I have no recourse. None. All I can do is pay the $445 fine and thank you very much,” Coldwell said.

Coldwell said she felt it was unfair that the City of Toronto was demanding payment after so long, and she had been told the city was going through its books and looking for sources of revenue.

“The City of Toronto is doing a series of audits and their auditors found a few things that weren’t paid for. This is how they dealt with it,” she said.

Coldwell believes drivers should be allowed to pay an outstanding fine without losing their license and that traffic tickets should be processed sooner than 13 years.

“I paid it under protest because I had no other choice since I have to drive,” Coldwell said.

Other drivers are also receiving reminders to pay fines from many years ago, and CTV News Toronto reported on another viewer who said his license was suspended because of a ticket he received 25 years ago.

If you get a traffic ticket, it is best to pay it immediately.