Too Late for a Traffic Ticket?

Question: I would like to know how long the police have to write me a traffic ticket after an accident. I was involved in a traffic accident 2 nights ago in Vancouver. I hit another vehicle at an intersection and called the police. They took down all the information, asked me to report to ICBC but did not give me a ticket and did not say that they would be giving me one.

Will I be served a ticket at a later date?

Up to One Year to Issue a Traffic Ticket

Police in BC have up to one year after the incident occurs in which to serve the offender with a traffic ticket. The Motor Vehicle Act says this:

Limitation of actions

78 An information for or in respect of an offence against or a contravention of this Act or the regulations must be laid within 12 months from the time when the matter of the information arose.

Traffic Tickets are Usually Written Right Away

It is rare that tickets are not handed to the offender right away, but not unheard of. Sometimes an officer finds more information after a crash or takes the time to consider and ask for advice before finishing up the investigation.

I would say, however, that the more time passes the less likely this is to happen. Police are not required to write a traffic ticket as part of a collision investigation.

ICBC's Liability Decision

Not writing a traffic ticket will not have any effect on ICBC's liability decision either. This is decided according to the civil court decisions in effect at the time.

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