Stunt Driving in Ontario: Penalties, Licence Suspension & Defences (2026)

Short answer: Stunt driving in Ontario includes driving 40 km/h or more over the limit where the posted limit is under 80 km/h, 50 km/h or more over where it is 80 km/h or higher, or 150 km/h anywhere. Police impose an immediate 30-day licence suspension and 14-day vehicle impoundment at the roadside. A conviction brings a $2,000–$10,000 fine, possible jail of up to six months, six demerit points and a licence suspension of at least one year.

Before you ever see a courtroom, a stunt driving charge takes your licence and your car. Yet it is only an allegation, and many of these cases turn on the reliability of a single speed reading. This guide explains what the offence is under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act in 2026, what happens at the roadside, what is at stake on conviction, and how these charges are defended.

What counts as stunt driving in Ontario?

Section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) makes it an offence to drive a motor vehicle on a highway in a race, a contest or while performing a stunt. The behaviours that qualify are defined in Ontario Regulation 455/07. Speed is by far the most common basis for a charge:

• 40 km/h or more over the limit on a road with a posted limit under 80 km/h — for example, 90 km/h in a 50 zone;
• 50 km/h or more over the limit on a road posted at 80 km/h or higher — for example, 130 km/h on an 80 km/h road; and
• 150 km/h or more anywhere in the province, including 400-series highway sections posted at 110 km/h.

Speed is not the only route. The regulation also covers conduct such as intentionally preventing another vehicle from passing, deliberately cutting off another vehicle, driving unnecessarily close to another vehicle, a pedestrian or a fixed object, driving in a way intended to lift tires off the road, spinning the vehicle or making it lose traction while turning, and driving with someone in the trunk.

Is 50 over always stunt driving?

In practical terms, yes. People often search for “50 over speeding Ontario” expecting a ticket. Because the threshold is 40 km/h over on roads posted below 80 km/h and 50 km/h over on faster roads, travelling 50 km/h or more over the limit meets the stunt driving threshold on any road in Ontario. It is laid as a summons to court, not a ticket you can simply pay.

Roadside penalties: what happens immediately

Since the Moving Ontario Family Safely changes took effect in 2021, police who stop a driver for stunt driving impose administrative penalties on the spot:

• an immediate 30-day driver’s licence suspension; and
• a 14-day vehicle impoundment, whether or not you own the vehicle.

These are administrative sanctions, separate from the charge itself. They apply whether or not you are later convicted, and the towing and storage costs are the responsibility of the driver or owner.

Penalties on conviction

If you are convicted of stunt driving under section 172, the court and the Ministry of Transportation impose a much more serious set of consequences:

• a fine of $2,000 to $10,000;
• possible imprisonment of up to six months;
• six demerit points on your driving record;
• a post-conviction licence suspension of one to three years for a first conviction, three to ten years for a second, and a lifetime suspension for a third (reducible to ten years in some circumstances) — a fourth conviction brings a lifetime suspension that cannot be reduced; and
• a mandatory driver improvement course.

Novice drivers (G1, G2, M1 and M2) face additional graduated licensing consequences, including further suspension or cancellation of their licence. And for every driver, the insurance impact is often the largest cost of all: a stunt driving conviction can lead an insurer to refuse renewal or move you into high-risk coverage for years.

Stunt driving vs. careless and dangerous driving

Stunt driving is a provincial offence under the HTA. A conviction appears on your driver’s record, not on a criminal record. It is easy to confuse with two other charges:

• Careless driving (HTA s. 130) is also a provincial offence. It is about driving without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for others, and it carries six demerit points, fines and a possible licence suspension.
• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle (Criminal Code s. 320.13) is a criminal offence. The Crown must prove driving that was dangerous to the public and a marked departure from what a reasonable driver would do. It can be prosecuted by indictment with a maximum of ten years in prison, and higher maximums apply where bodily harm or death results.

Excessive speed alone does not automatically make driving “dangerous” in the criminal sense, but where speed is combined with heavy traffic, weaving or a collision, police sometimes lay a criminal charge alongside, or instead of, stunt driving. If you are facing both, the criminal charge must take priority in your defence strategy.

How stunt driving charges are defended

A stunt driving charge is prosecuted in provincial offences court, and the prosecution must prove the offence beyond a reasonable doubt. Common areas of defence include:

• The speed evidence. Radar and laser (lidar) devices must be tested before and after the shift according to the manufacturer’s procedures, and the officer must be trained on that device. Gaps in testing records, interference, or the risk of targeting the wrong vehicle in traffic can raise a reasonable doubt.
• Pacing and aircraft enforcement. Where an officer “paced” your car, the reliability of the cruiser’s speedometer, the distance travelled and the consistency of the gap all matter. Aircraft cases depend on timing and ground markings.
• Disclosure. Your lawyer will request the officer’s notes, device logs, calibration records and any in-car video. Missing or incomplete disclosure can be decisive.
• Identity and the posted limit. The prosecution must prove who was driving and what the posted limit actually was at the location — signage in construction zones and transition areas is a frequent issue.
• Resolution to a lesser offence. Where the evidence is strong but there are weaknesses or strong mitigating factors, a prosecutor may agree to resolve the case as a speeding offence at a lower speed. Avoiding a stunt driving conviction can mean avoiding the post-conviction suspension and reducing the insurance consequences significantly.

What you say to the officer at the roadside can become evidence, so it helps to understand your rights when dealing with police.

Frequently asked questions

Can I just pay a stunt driving ticket?

No. Stunt driving is laid by summons and requires a court appearance, either personally or through a legal representative. There is no set fine you can pay out of court, and a guilty plea is a conviction with all of the consequences listed above.

Will I get my 30-day suspension back if I win in court?

No. The roadside suspension and impoundment are administrative measures that are imposed immediately and are not refunded if the charge is later withdrawn or you are acquitted. The court case decides whether the much longer post-conviction suspension applies.

Does stunt driving give me a criminal record?

Not on its own. It is a provincial offence, so a conviction goes on your driving record. A separate charge of dangerous operation under the Criminal Code, however, would create a criminal record if you were convicted.

Should I hire a lawyer for a first stunt driving charge?

Given the minimum $2,000 fine, the licence suspension of at least a year and the insurance consequences, many drivers find that professional representation is worth it. A lawyer can review the speed evidence and disclosure and negotiate with the prosecutor in a way that is difficult to do alone.

Charged with stunt driving? Get advice early

Aaron M. Spektor (LSO #51731A) has defended driving offences and other provincial and regulatory charges across the GTA for 30 years. Aaron personally reviews every file. For a free, confidential consultation, call (416) 599-1900 or contact us online.

Sources

• Speeding and aggressive driving — Government of Ontario
• Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8 — Ontario e-Laws
• O. Reg. 455/07: Races, Contests and Stunts — Ontario e-Laws
• Understanding demerit points — Government of Ontario
• Criminal Code, s. 320.13 (Dangerous operation) — Justice Laws

This article is general information about Ontario criminal law, not legal advice. Every case turns on its own facts; speak with a lawyer about your specific situation.