Caught 40 or 50 km/h Over the Limit? Here’s What You’re Actually Facing.
The moment the officer said “stunt driving,” this stopped being a speeding ticket. Your licence is suspended, your vehicle is on a tow truck, and there’s a court date coming. But here’s what matters: the roadside is not the verdict, and the charge itself is still fully defendable.
What Happened at the Roadside
These started immediately — before any court decision.
Storage fees run daily whether or not you fight the charge — but what happens in court is still entirely undecided. How to get your vehicle and licence back ›
When Does Speeding Become Stunt Driving in Ontario?
Three speed thresholds turn an ordinary speeding ticket into a stunt driving charge under section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act. Most drivers only know one of them.
| Posted Speed Limit | Speed That Can Trigger a Stunt Charge |
|---|---|
| Less than 80 km/h The one nobody knows | 40 km/h or more over the limit |
| 80 km/h or higher | 50 km/h or more over the limit |
| Any road, any limit | 150 km/h or more |
In Ontario, 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 the limit is 80 km/h or higher, or 150 km/h anywhere can be charged as stunt driving — not speeding. Going 105 in a 60 zone is a stunt charge.
Threshold Checker: Enter Your Numbers
Enter the posted limit and the speed alleged on your paperwork. See instantly which side of the stunt threshold the allegation falls on — and what that means.
Based only on the numbers you enter. The exact posted limit and the reliability of the alleged speed are precisely what a proper case review examines — this tool is a starting point, not a legal conclusion.
Your result will appear here
Select the posted limit, enter the alleged speed, and press the button. You’ll see whether the allegation crosses the 40-over, 50-over, or 150 km/h stunt threshold — and what typically follows on each side of that line.
What Just Happened at the Roadside — and Why
A stunt driving stop moves fast: licence handed over, tow truck called, paperwork pushed through the window. Here’s what each piece actually was.
Your Licence Was Suspended
The 30-day suspension is administrative — the officer is required to impose it when laying a stunt charge. It happens automatically, before any evidence is tested and before any court looks at the case.
It is not a finding of guilt, and it doesn’t predict the outcome of the charge.
Your Vehicle Was Impounded
The 14-day impound attaches to the vehicle, not the driver — which is why it applies even when the car belongs to a parent, a spouse, an employer, or a rental company. Tow and storage fees are the owner’s problem from day one.
You Were Handed Paperwork
You should have a summons with a court date, a notice of suspension, and tow/impound information. The summons has no fine printed on it — because a stunt charge can’t be resolved by simply paying. It has to be answered in court.
Take photos of every page now, front and back, before anything gets lost.
The key thing to understand: everything above happened before any court decided anything. The roadside consequences are real, but the charge itself — the part that decides your record, your insurance, and any further suspension — is still fully open and fully defendable.
Speeding Ticket vs. Stunt Driving Charge
A few km/h on paper separates two completely different legal situations. This gap is exactly why the charge is worth reviewing before any decision gets made.
Speeding
Highway Traffic Act s.128 · Part I ticket
Stunt Driving
Highway Traffic Act s.172 · Summons — court required
The distance between these two columns is the entire case. In appropriate cases, a stunt charge can be resolved on the speeding side of this table — different charge, different points, different insurance category, no further suspension. That’s why the goal of a stunt driving defence is rarely about the fine — it’s about which column your record ends up in.
Your Key Dates, Calculated
Enter the date of the roadside stop. Get your estimated vehicle release date, licence reinstatement date, and where you stand right now.
When Did the Stop Happen?
The impound and suspension clocks both started at the roadside. Enter that date and the timeline below fills in automatically.
Estimates assume the standard 14-day impound and 30-day suspension running from the stop date. Confirm exact release timing with the impound facility and your suspension paperwork — and remember the court case continues well past both dates. Full impound & licence-back guide ›
What Happens Next — Step by Step
A stunt driving file follows a predictable path. How your case unfolds often depends on early decisions — especially the ones made before and at the first appearance.
The Roadside
Suspension and impound begin immediately. Photograph all paperwork, note the posted limit and location, and preserve any dashcam footage before it’s overwritten.
Vehicle & Licence Back
The vehicle is typically released after day 14 (fees due), and the licence after day 30. Neither event affects the charge — the court case is just beginning.
First Court Appearance
Not the trial, and not the moment to plead. It sets the course: disclosure requests, resolution discussions, and next dates. In most cases, a representative can attend for you.
Resolution or Trial
Once disclosure is reviewed, the realistic paths become clear — withdrawal, a resolution on different terms, or trial. Each lands differently on your record and insurance.
Why These Charges Get Reviewed, Not Just Accepted
A stunt allegation built on speed lives or dies on details. A proper file review examines every one of them before any decision is made.
None of this is visible from the summons alone — it comes from full disclosure: the officer’s notes, device records, and the evidence the prosecution intends to rely on. Requesting and reviewing disclosure is where a real defence starts.
The Realistic Paths a Stunt File Can Take
No outcome can be promised — every file turns on its own evidence, record, and court. But the possibility space is well defined, and each path lands very differently.
Withdrawal
The charge is withdrawn — no conviction, no points, no insurance entry from the charge. Typically tied to evidentiary or procedural problems identified in disclosure.
Reduction to a Lesser Offence
Resolved as speeding or another non-stunt offence — different points, different insurance category, and no further licence suspension from a stunt conviction.
Resolution on Amended Terms
The charge resolves with negotiated facts or penalties. What ends up on the record — and how insurers classify it — is often the most important detail.
Trial
The prosecution must prove the allegation. The measurement, the threshold math, identity, and procedure are all tested against the disclosed evidence.
The difference between these paths is measured in years of insurance treatment and licence consequences — which is why the first decision shouldn’t be a plea, it should be a review. See how traffic ticket resolutions actually work in Ontario and how insurers classify convictions.
Speeding 50 Over & Stunt Threshold FAQ
Is 50 km/h over the limit automatically stunt driving in Ontario?
Where the posted limit is 80 km/h or higher, driving 50 km/h or more over can be charged as stunt driving. Where the limit is under 80 km/h, the threshold drops to 40 km/h over. Driving 150 km/h or more can be charged as stunt driving on any road. Whether the allegation holds up is a separate question — the measurement and the exact posted limit are exactly what a case review tests.
How long is your licence suspended at the roadside for stunt driving?
The roadside suspension is 30 days. It’s administrative, starts immediately, and happens before any court looks at the charge. A further suspension of 1 to 3 years only applies if the charge ends in a stunt driving conviction — which is precisely what a defence works to avoid.
Can I get my car back before the 14 days are up?
Generally, no — the impound runs its full 14 days, and tow and storage fees are payable to release the vehicle. This applies even when the vehicle belongs to someone else. Our impound and licence-back guide covers the release process step by step.
Do I have to go to court for a stunt driving charge?
The charge itself must be answered in court — there’s no fine to simply pay. But in most cases, a licensed representative can attend court appearances on your behalf, so you typically don’t have to take time off work or appear personally while the case is being handled.
Can a stunt driving charge be reduced to speeding?
In appropriate cases, yes — stunt charges can resolve as speeding or another lesser offence, depending on the evidence, the disclosure, the driving record, and the court. No outcome can ever be promised, but the difference between a stunt conviction and a speeding conviction is enormous: points, insurance category, and the 1-to-3-year suspension all change. That gap is what makes a proper review worth doing before any plea.
What happens if I was driving someone else’s car?
The impound still applies — it attaches to the vehicle, so the owner carries the tow and storage costs and the loss of the vehicle for 14 days. If you were driving a company vehicle, there can be additional employment and fleet consequences worth understanding early — see our guide on tickets in a company vehicle.
Related Ontario Traffic Ticket Defence Pages
Reviews From Ontario Drivers We’ve Represented
Before You Decide Anything, Know Exactly What You’re Facing.
With 15+ years defending Ontario traffic charges, we review the alleged speed, the threshold math, the disclosure, and the realistic paths for your file — then explain your options and the fee, clearly and without pressure.
P.S. — The most important window in a stunt file is early: disclosure takes time to arrive, and first-appearance decisions shape everything that follows. The sooner the review happens, the more options stay open.
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