If you are facing criminal charges, you need a criminal defence lawyer in Toronto to look at your case as soon as possible.

A fine is imposed for offences of a relatively minor nature, and where there is no prior criminal record, or at most a very minor one. The maximum fine you can expect for summary conviction offences under the Criminal Code is $5000. Typically, the fines range from $150 for very minor violations to $2000 for the most severe ones that still fit within a fine range. If you’re unsure how your case will move through the system, you can learn more about the court process in Toronto here.

A 15% Victim Fine Surcharge is also applied to fines imposed by the judge unless you can convince the judge it would be an excessive financial hardship. You can expect that the judge will give a reasonable amount of time to pay the fine, anywhere from 1 month to 1 year. For a broader look at how judges decide penalties, see our guide to criminal sentencing in Toronto.

Should you fail to pay a fine, however, you are subject to arrest and will have to serve a jail sentence proportional to the amount of the fine still outstanding at the time of arrest. You will be told how much time that is at the time of sentencing. You will also be told that you can work off the fine through the “Fine Options Program”.

Strategic Criminal Defence is a top Google-rated criminal defence firm in Toronto, with over 500 5-star reviews. Our firm, and our experienced legal team, have defended clients in over 10,000 criminal cases. Leveraging our extensive network of lawyers and decades of experience, we craft defence strategies to help those accused of criminal offences beat the charges.

The lawyers at Strategic Criminal Defence are both highly experienced and dedicated to defending your rights and future in the face of these charges. Contact us today by calling (647) 986-8077.

Key Takeaways

  • If you are found guilty of a summary conviction offence, which is less serious, the most you can be fined is usually $5,000. Fines for indictable crimes, which are more serious, can be much higher, and in many cases, there is no set maximum.
  • For a lot of crimes, especially for first-time offenders or crimes that aren’t very serious, judges can choose to give fines instead of jail time.
  • When deciding how much to fine you, courts will have to consider how much money you have. They might let you pay it off in installments.
  • If you don’t pay your fines, you could lose your driver’s licence or even go to jail.
  • You can fight charges in a lot of different ways, even if you have to pay fines. You can question the evidence, review the officer’s actions, or look for another way to solve the problem.
  • With the right legal help and preparation, you can still win cases that involve fines.

How can a fine lawyer in Toronto help?

If you’re being charged with an offence that comes with a fine, our lawyers can help.

We can help you know what your rights and options are even before you are charged. Getting help early on might keep you from getting formal charges at all.

Our team can help you not say anything to the police that could hurt your case. We can help you talk to the police by telling you when to speak and when to stay quiet.

Our lawyers know how the courts in Toronto work and can handle complicated legal issues. We know what arguments work best with different judges and prosecutors, can talk them down from higher fines or find other solutions.

Examples of Fines 

  • A fisherman forgot to get a new licence and was fined $250 under the Fisheries Act.
  • A woman was caught speeding and given a $233 ticket. She also lost four points on her driver’s licence. She can either pay the fine or go to traffic court to fight it.
  • A man was drinking beer in a public park and ticketed $115 by bylaw officers because it is against the law to drink in public.

Consequences of a Fine 

You can receive a fine for breaking laws at the federal level (like the Criminal Code), the provincial level (like highway traffic acts), or the provincial level (like noise bylaws).

The amount of money you could have to pay for breaking the law depends on the offence. For summary criminal convictions, the most you can be fined is $5,000. Judges have a lot of leeway when it comes to sentencing because most summary offences don’t have minimum fines.

Provincial offences like speeding and drinking and driving usually have set fines that are different in each province. Most of the time, fines for provincial offences are between $50 and $500. But if you commit a serious offence, you could have to pay more than $1,000.

Fines for breaking city bylaws usually range from $100 to $500, but this depends on the city and the offence.

Frequently Asked Questions

For criminal offences, you can ask for a lower fine at your sentencing hearing if you can show that you are having trouble with money. Judges can lower your fines based on your situation and how much money you have.

Most of the time, when someone breaks the law, they have to pay a fine to the provincial government. Restitution, on the other hand, is money given directly to victims to make up for what they lost because of the crime.

The first thing you can do is ask the court for more time to pay. Most of the time, this request is granted, especially if this is your first offence.

You can also ask about a payment plan that lets you pay the fine in smaller amounts each month. Most courts will help you figure out a way to pay that works with your budget. Some provinces also have programs that let you do community service instead of paying your fine.