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Failing to Remain or Return to Scene: Contrary to Section 200 of the Highway Traffic Act Constitutes a Serious Offence
Question: What should I know about defending hit and run charges in Ontario?
Answer: Successfully challenging a hit and run charge involves ensuring the prosecution proves beyond a reasonable doubt that you were involved in the accident. Given the severe penalties associated with a conviction, including hefty fines and potential jail time, seeking professional legal guidance can significantly improve your chances of a favourable outcome.
Defending Hit & Run Charges
When an accident occurs a driver must remain at the scene or promptly return to the scene of the accident. At the scene of the accident, a driver is required to provide assistance to anyone injured, if necessary. Furthermore, a driver is legally required to provide assistance as reasonably necessary, such as by providing first aid to anyone injured. Additionally, except as may be otherwise directed by the police, drivers involved in an accident are legally required to exchange information including name, address, licence number, insurance coverage information including insurer and policy number details, vehicle licence plate number, and the vehicle owner information including name and address in situations where the owner of the vehicle is someone other than the driver.
The Law
When Must a Driver Stay at An Accident Scene
The actual legal specifics regarding the offence of failing to remain at the scene of an accident or failing to return to the scene of an accident, commonly referred to as 'hit and run', are as stated per section 200 of the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8 where it is said:
Duty of person in charge of vehicle in case of accident
200 (1) Where an accident occurs on a highway, every person in charge of a vehicle or street car that is directly or indirectly involved in the accident shall,
(a) remain at or immediately return to the scene of the accident;
(b) render all possible assistance; and
(c) upon request, give in writing to anyone sustaining loss or injury or to any police officer or to any witness his or her name, address, driver’s licence number and jurisdiction of issuance, motor vehicle liability insurance policy insurer and policy number, name and address of the registered owner of the vehicle and the vehicle permit number.
Penalty
(2) Every person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $400 and not more than $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both, and in addition the person’s licence or permit may be suspended for a period of not more than two years.
Penalty
What Will Happen If Convicted of Failing to Remain At An Accident
As above, failing to remain at an accident scene or failing to return to an accident scene is a charge that, upon conviction, brings severe penalties including a fine that ranges from at least four hundred ($400) dollars to a maximum of two thousand ($2,000) dollars. This fine will also be subjected to the statutory victim surcharge per the Victim Fine Surcharges, O. Reg. 161/00 and an additional court cost. Furthermore, a convicted driver may be sentenced to jail for a term of up to six (6) months. The convicted driver may also be suspended from driving for two (2) years. A convicted driver also receives seven (7) demerit points per the Demerit Point System, O. Reg. 339/94 and will likely incur severe increase to insurance rates.
Defence Strategy
How to Fight a Traffic Ticket Charge For Failing to Remain At An Accident Scene
A driver charged with the offence of failure to remain at an accident scene or failure to return to an accident scene may be successful in fighting the charge by forcing the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that, among other things:
- The driver charged is the driver who was actually involved; and
- The occurrence of the accident as alleged.
The burden of proof upon the prosecution is very well summarized in the case of R. v. Found, 2011 ONCJ 167 where it is said:
82. With regard to the charge of failing to remain at the scene of an accident, R. v. Hill 1972 CanLII 670 (ON SC), [1972] 2 O.R. 402, 17 C.R.N.S. 124, 6 C.C.C. (2d) 285 (H.C.) was affirmed in 1973 by the Supreme Court of Canada. That decision reads: “On a charge under the section it is sufficient to prove that two vehicles have touched; proof of knowledge of damage is not required.”
83. R. v. Racimore (1975) 1975 CanLII 1478 (ON SC), 25 C.C.C. (2d) 143 (Ont. H.C.) says failing to remain was held not to be an offence requiring mens rea but where the defendant had no knowledge of contact with the other vehicle, he ought to be acquitted as the actus reus in failing to remain was involuntary.
84. R. v. Huntley [2006] O.J. No. 4549 2006 ONCJ 432 72 W.C.B. (2d) 373 deals both with careless driving and failure to remain at the scene of an accident. Huntley says the prosecution must first prove that an accident involving the defendant's motor vehicle had occurred beyond a reasonable doubt before it can prove that the defendant had committed the offences of failing to remain under s. 200(1)(a).
85. The existence of an accident involving the defendant's motor vehicle is an element of those two offences. In order to prove that the defendant's motor vehicle was involved in an accident the prosecution must prove that the defendant's vehicle had collided – Huntley involved a collision with a pedestrian – and by having done so, may also establish that the defendant had committed the offence of careless driving for the particular circumstances of the case.
86. Huntley states that generally an accident is an event where there is a motor vehicle collision with another vehicle, object, animal or person. Huntley determined someone directly or indirectly involved in an accident has an obligation to remain at or return to the scene of an accident under s. 200(1) (a), regardless of the quantum of damage to property or the degree of personal injury that results from the accident. To prove the charge related to failing to remain it is essential that the prosecution prove there was a motor vehicle accident involving the defendant's vehicle on the date, time and location in question.
87. Huntley states the obligation on the defendant to remain at or immediately return to the scene of the accident under s. 200(1) (a) of the Highway Traffic Act is dependent on whether the prosecution can prove that the defendant was directly or indirectly involved in an accident, or in particular, that he had been driving a vehicle that had collided with another motor vehicle.
In addition to a defence strategy that puts the burden on the prosecution to prove, as shown above, that the driver was involved in the accident, a successful defence may also be achieved via various other strategies that are available even when the prosecution does prove that the accused driver was involved in the alleged accident. The other available strategies include the defence of necessity and the defence of emergency; and accordingly, if the defence can prove that the failure to remain or return to the scene of an accident was due to a reasonable necessity or reasonable emergency, then the charge against the driver should be dismissed without a finding of guilt.
Conclusion
Failing to remain at the scene of an accident or failing to return to the scene of an accident is a charge that is treated very seriously with potential for a significant fine, victim surcharge, and court cost in addition to the potential of jail for a period of up to six (6) months. Upon a conviction, a driver also receives seven (7) demerit points and most likely is also penalized with harsh insurance rates for three (3) years.
Accordingly, if you are accused of failing to remain at an accident scene or failing to return to an accident scene, promptly obtain a professional legal opinion regarding the various defence strategies that are available to you.
