It’s easy to lose track of a traffic ticket—whether it was handed to you during a hectic morning commute or issued when you weren’t even in the car.

In Ontario, unpaid traffic fines can quietly snowball into bigger problems, from license suspensions to added court fees.

But instead of digging through old papers or waiting for something to show up in the mail, there’s a faster way: checking online.

This guide cuts through the noise and shows you exactly “how to check if you have traffic tickets online Ontario” tied to your name, license plate, or driver’s license—right from your phone or computer.

What To Do If You Lost Your Traffic Ticket?

If you’ve lost your traffic ticket in Ontario and need to check if you have any outstanding tickets or fines, you can still take action to resolve the issue. Here’s a concise guide on what to do:

1. Contact the Provincial Offences Court Office: Reach out to the court office in the municipality where the ticket was issued.

You’ll need to provide your full name, driver’s license number, and any details about the incident (e.g., date, location, or type of offence). They can look up the ticket details, including the offence number, fine amount, and due date.

• Find the Court Office: Visit the Ontario Court of Justice website or call ServiceOntario at 1-800-267-8097 to locate the appropriate court office.
• Municipal Contact: Some municipalities, like Toronto, have specific contact points for ticket inquiries. For example, Toronto’s Provincial Offences Court can be reached at 416-338-7320 or via their online contact form.

2. Check Online (If Possible): Some municipalities allow you to check ticket status online, even without the ticket, using your driver’s license number or vehicle plate number. For example:

• Toronto: Use the City of Toronto’s Court Case Look Up tool to search for Provincial Offences Act matters, including traffic tickets.
• Other Municipalities: Check the municipality’s website for similar online tools (e.g., Ottawa, Mississauga). You may need to create an account or provide identification details.

3. Visit or Call ServiceOntario: If you can’t find the ticket online, visit a ServiceOntario location or call 1-800-267-8097. They can provide information on provincial offences or direct you to the right court office. Have your driver’s license or vehicle information ready.

4. Check Your Driving Record: While not specific to individual tickets, obtaining a driver’s abstract from ServiceOntario (online or in-person) can show demerit points or convictions related to traffic violations. This costs about $12–$18 and can be accessed via ServiceOntario’s website.

5. Act Promptly: Once you obtain the ticket details, confirm the fine amount, payment deadlines, or court appearance requirements. Delaying action could lead to additional penalties, such as late fees, license suspension, or collection actions.

6. Consider Legal Advice: If the ticket involves serious charges (e.g., careless driving or stunt driving), consult a paralegal or lawyer specializing in traffic tickets to explore your options for disputing or resolving the matter.

Step By Step On How To Check If You Have Traffic Tickets Online Ontario

Checking for traffic tickets online in Ontario primarily involves using the provincial online system, which redirects you to the relevant municipal court based on your ticket details.

Note that Ontario does not have a single centralized database to search for unknown or all possible tickets across the province without specific information.

If you’re unsure if you have any tickets (e.g., you don’t recall receiving one), the process is more involved and may require contacting courts or reviewing your driving record.

Traffic tickets fall under the Provincial Offences Act and exclude parking tickets, which are handled separately.

Here’s What To Do If You Have Your Traffic Ticket or Notice:

Step 1: Gather Required Information

• You’ll need the four-digit location code (ICON code) and the eight-digit offence number from your ticket or notice. If you have a summons, use the case number instead.ea80aa This info is printed on the document you received.

2. Access the Online System:

• Go to the Ministry of the Attorney General’s online portal at https://www.justiceservices.jus.gov.on.ca/POA/?lang=en.dc1e84 This is the official starting point for checking Provincial Offences Act matters, including traffic tickets.

3. Enter Your Details

• Input the location code and offence number (or case number). The system will redirect you to the specific municipal court’s website for your jurisdiction.dff5a5

4. Review Your Ticket Status

• Once redirected, you can view details such as the fine amount, due date, court date (if applicable), and options to pay, dispute, or request a resolution meeting. Some municipal sites allow online payments or dispute filings directly.

5. Take Action if Needed

Pay any fines promptly to avoid additional penalties like late fees, license suspension, or collections. If disputing, follow the site’s instructions to request a trial or early resolution.

What Can’t Be Checked Online?

In Ontario, certain traffic ticket-related matters cannot be accessed through online portals due to legal restrictions, system limitations, or the nature of the offence. Below is a concise list of what you cannot check online for traffic tickets in Ontario:

1. Criminal Offences: Traffic-related charges classified as criminal (e.g., dangerous driving or impaired driving under the Criminal Code) are not available on provincial or municipal ticket lookup systems. These are managed by criminal courts and require direct court contact or legal assistance.
2. Parking Tickets: Parking violations are separate from Provincial Offences Act traffic tickets and are handled by municipal parking authorities. Online traffic ticket systems (e.g., Ontario’s Justice Services portal) do not include parking ticket information. Check municipal parking portals instead, such as Toronto’s at https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/tickets-fines/parking-tickets/.
3. Appealed Cases: If a traffic ticket has been appealed and moved to a higher court (e.g., Ontario Court of Justice or Superior Court), it’s no longer accessible via standard online ticket lookup tools.
4. Cases with Publication Bans: Tickets or cases subject to a court-ordered publication ban (uncommon for routine tickets) are not viewable online to protect sensitive information.
5. Youth Offences (Under 16): Charges involving drivers under 16 fall under the Youth Criminal Justice Act and are not publicly accessible online to safeguard privacy.
6. Tickets Without Identifying Details: Online systems require specific information like the offence number, location code (ICON code), or case number. Without these, you can’t search for tickets under your name alone in most online portals.
7. Unprocessed or Recent Tickets: Tickets issued very recently may not yet appear in online systems due to processing times. You’ll need to contact the court directly to confirm.
8. Out-of-Province Tickets: Ontario’s online systems only cover tickets issued within the province. Tickets from other provinces or countries are not included.

Next Steps:

• For criminal charges, appealed cases, or youth matters, contact the relevant court (find details at https://www.ontariocourts.ca/) or seek legal advice.
• For parking tickets, use your municipality’s parking ticket lookup system or contact their parking office.
• For missing or unprocessed tickets, call the municipal Provincial Offences court or ServiceOntario at 1-800-267-8097 with your driver’s license number.
• To indirectly check for processed tickets, order a driver’s abstract from ServiceOntario (https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-drivers-abstract) for $12–$18, which shows convictions and demerit points.

In summary, Checking traffic tickets online in Ontario is a convenient way to stay on top of your driving record, but it requires specific information and has limitations.