My Ontario driver's licence was suspended — how do I get it back?
Reinstatement depends on the reason for suspension: administrative suspensions end when the underlying issue is cured, while criminal driving suspensions require the full prohibition period, program completion and reinstatement fees.
Ontario suspensions come from different sources. Administrative suspensions — unpaid fines, defaulted support, medical reporting, or accumulating demerit points — end once the underlying issue is resolved and the reinstatement fee is paid.
Suspensions flowing from a criminal conviction such as impaired driving run for the statutory prohibition period and normally require completion of the Back on Track program and, in many cases, an ignition interlock condition before full driving privileges return.
Driving while under suspension is a separate offence carrying escalating fines, vehicle impoundment and possible jail. Where a suspension is based on a decision that can be appealed or a charge that can be challenged, that route should be considered before simply waiting it out.
Source: Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, ss. 41, 46, 53
This work is handled by Gagan Pannu (Criminal defence). Read more about criminal defence at VK Law Group, or send us the facts and we will tell you where you stand.
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