Woman gets Toronto driving ticket from 13 years ago: Report

A Mississauga woman says she was shocked to have her driving licence suspended over a 13-year-old ticket.

Christine Coldwell remembers the ticket for making an improper turn while driving in Toronto, but says she paid the fine.

But since it has been so long, she can’t prove it.

“I’m not disputing the fact that I got a ticket in 2011, I know I did, but I’m pretty sure I paid it,” Coldwell told CTV News Toronto.

Unpaid traffic tickets can lead to a driver licence suspension.

Coldwell said over the years she has dealt with ServiceOntario for renewing her driver’s licence and her licence plates.

“I went and either renewed my licence or changed my address five times and in the 13 years it (the traffic ticket) wasn’t there,” she said.

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Coldwell had to pay the fine of $115, a late payment fee of $49 and a licence reinstatement fee of $281.

“There is no recourse for me. None. It’s just pay the $445 fine and thank you very much,” said Coldwell.

She says this is a cash grab by the City of Toronto.

“The City of Toronto is doing a bunch of audits and their auditors found a few things that were not paid and this is how they dealt with it,” she said.

Coldwell feels drivers should be allowed to pay an outstanding fine without losing their licence and said tickets should be dealt with sooner than 13 years.

“I paid it under protest because I had no choice because I need to drive,” said Coldwell.

Other drivers are also getting notices to pay fines from many years earlier. The news outlet reported a driver said his licence was suspended for a ticket he received 25 years ago.