Ron Jourard
Criminal Lawyer, Toronto, Ontario
www.defencelaw.com
Tel. (416) 398-6685
Toll free (Canada and U.S.) 1-888-257-0002
Email: jourard@defencelaw.com

Criminal Offence Penalty Charts

Compiled by Ron Jourard

Return to Penalty Chart index or defencelaw.com home page.

Driving Offences

S=Summary H=Hybrid I=Indictable

Offence description Criminal Code Section S/H/I Minimum penalty Discharge available Maximum Penalty
(S)
Maximum Penalty
(I)
Dangerous Driving (no injury) 249(1) H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 5 yrs.
Dangerous Driving (injury occurs) 249(3) I   yes   10 yrs.
Flee Police 249.1 H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 5 yrs.
Flee Police (injury caused
by dangerous driving)
249.1(4)(a) I       14 yrs.
Flee Police (death caused
by dangerous driving)
249.1(4)(b) I       life imprisonment
Fail to Stop at Scene of Accident 252 H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 5 yrs.
Fail to Stop at Scene of Accident (knowing person hurt in accident) 252 I   yes   10 yrs.
Fail to Stop at Scene of Accident (knowing person killed in accident) 252 I       life imprisonment
Driving or Care or Control while Impaired or Over 80 mgs. 253 H $600 fine for first offence; 14 days for second; 90 days for third Curative discharge available in some provinces (not Ont.) 6 mos./$2,000 fine 5 yrs.
Refuse or fail to provide a breath or blood sample 254(5) H $600 fine for first offence; 14 days for second; 90 days for third   6 mos./$2,000 fine 5 yrs.
Impaired Driving Causing Bodily Harm 255(2) I   yes   10 yrs.
Impaired Driving Causing Death 255(3) I       life imprisonment
Drive Disqualified 259(4) H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 2 yrs.



Crimes of dishonesty

S=Summary H=Hybrid I=Indictable

Offence description Criminal Code Section S/H/I Minimum penalty Discharge available Maximum Penalty
(S)
Maximum Penalty
(I)
Theft, $5,000 or less 322,
334(b)
H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 2 yrs.
Theft over $5,000 322,
334(a)
I   yes   10 yrs.
Possession of stolen property under $5,000 354,
355(b)
H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 2 yrs.
Possession of stolen property over $5,000 354,
355(a)
I   yes   10 yrs.
Fraud, $5,000 or less 380(1)(b) H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 2 yrs.
Fraud over $5,000 380(1)(a) I   yes   10 yrs.
Take motor vehicle without consent 335 S   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine  
Theft or forgery of credit card 342(a),(b) H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 10 yrs.
Use or possess stolen or forged credit card 342(c) H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 10 yrs.
Use revoked or cancelled credit card 342(d) H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 10 yrs.
Robbery (without firearm) 343,
344(b)
I       life
Robbery (with firearm) 343,
344(a)
I 4 yrs.     life
Extortion (without firearm) 346(1),
(1.1)(b)
I       life
Extortion (with firearm) 346(1),
(1.1)(a)
I 4 yrs.     life
Break and enter with intent, committing indictable offence (dwelling house) 348 I       life
Break and enter with intent, committing indictable offence (non-dwelling house) 348 H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 10 yrs.



Weapons offences

S=Summary H=Hybrid I=Indictable

Offence description Criminal Code Section S/H/I Minimum penalty Discharge available Maximum Penalty
(S)
Maximum Penalty
(I)
Careless storage or use or handling of firearm 86 H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 2 yrs. (1st offence); 5 yrs. (subsequent offence)
Pointing a firearm 87 H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 5 yrs.
Weapons dangerous 88 H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 10 yrs.
Carrying concealed weapon 90 H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 5 yrs.
Unauthorized possession of firearm 91 H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 5 yrs.
Possession of firearm knowing possession unauthorized 92 I 1 yr. for 2d offence; 2 yrs. for 3d yes (first offence only)   10 yrs.
Possession of restricted weapon with ammunition 95 H 1 yr. (indictment only) yes (summary conviction only) 1 yr. 10 yrs.



Crimes involving threats or violence

S=Summary H=Hybrid I=Indictable

Offence description Criminal Code Section S/H/I Minimum penalty Discharge available Maximum Penalty
(S)
Maximum Penalty
(I)
Threat to cause death or harm 264.1 H   yes 18 mos./$2,000 fine 5 yrs.
Criminal harassment 264 H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 5 yrs.
Assault 266 H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 5 yrs.
Assault causing bodily harm or with weapon 267 H   yes 18 mos./$2,000 fine 10 yrs.
Assault police officer, resist arrest 270 H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 5 yrs.
Aggravated assault 268 I       14 yrs.
Sexual assault 271 H   yes 18 mos./$2,000 fine 10 yrs.
Sexual assault with weapon, threats or causing harm (no firearm) 272(1) I       14 yrs.
Sexual assault with weapon, threats or causing harm (use of firearm) 272(2) I 4 yrs.     14 yrs.
Aggravated sexual assault (no firearm) 273(1) I       life
Aggravated sexual assault (use of firearm) 273(1) I 4 yrs.     life



Drug Offences

S=Summary H=Hybrid I=Indictable

Offence description Controlled Drugs and Substances Act Section S/H/I Minimum penalty Discharge available Maximum Penalty
(S)
Maximum Penalty
(I)
Possession of marijuana (up to 30 gms.) or hashish (up to 1 gm.) 4(1) S   yes 6 mos./$1,000 fine  
Possession of marijuana or hashish
4(1) H   yes 6 mos./$1,000 - 1st offence; 1 yr./$2,000 - subsequent offence 5 yrs. less a day
Possession of cocaine or heroin 4(1) H   yes 6 mos./$1,000 - 1st offence; 1 yr./$2,000 - subsequent offence 7 yrs.
Possession of amphetamines, LSD, mescaline, or psilocybin 4(1) H   yes 6 mos./$1,000 - 1st offence; 1 yr./$2,000 - subsequent offence 3 yrs.
Trafficking in marijuana or hashish or possession for the purpose of trafficking (up to 3 kgs.) 5 I   yes   5 yrs. less a day
Trafficking in marijuana or hashish or possession for the purpose of trafficking (3 kgs. or more) 5 I       life imprisonment
Trafficking in cocaine or heroin or possession for the purpose of trafficking 5 I       life imprisonment
Trafficking in amphetamines, LSD, mescaline, or psilocybin or possession for the purpose of trafficking 5 H   yes 18 mos./$2,000 fine 10 yrs.
Trafficking in barbituates or anabolic steroids or possession for the purpose of trafficking 5 H   yes 1 yr./$2,000 fine 3 yrs.
Importing, exporting heroin, cocaine, marijuana or hashish 6 I       life imprisonment
Importing, exporting amphetamines, LSD, mescaline, or psilocybin 6 H   yes 18 mos./$2,000 fine 10 yrs.
Cultivation of marijuana 7 I   yes   7 yrs.
Production of cocaine, heroin or hashish 7 I       life imprisonment
Production of amphetamines, LSD, mescaline, or psilocybin 7 H   yes 18 mos./$2,000 fine 10 yrs.
Production of barbituates or anabolic steroids 7 H   yes 1 yr./$2,000 fine 3 yrs.



Offences against administration of law and justice

S=Summary H=Hybrid I=Indictable

Offence description Criminal Code Section S/H/I Minimum penalty Discharge available Maximum Penalty
(S)
Maximum Penalty
(I)
Public Mischief 140 H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 5 yrs.
Fail to comply with bail condition 145(3) H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 2 yrs.
Fail to comply with probation order 733.1(1) H   yes 18 mos./$2,000 fine 2 yrs.
Fail to attend court 145(2) H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 2 yrs.
Personate police officer 130 S   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine  
Obstruct police 129 H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 2 yrs.
Obstruct justice (idemnifying surety or surety accepting fee) 139(1) H   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine 2 yrs.
Obstruct justice (includes threatening or bribing juror or witness) 139(2) I   yes   10 yrs.
Perjury 131, 132 I       14 yrs.



Crimes of sexual immorality

S=Summary H=Hybrid I=Indictable

Offence description Criminal Code Section S/H/I Minimum penalty Discharge available Maximum Penalty
(S)
Maximum Penalty
(I)
Indecent act 173 S   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine  
Keeping a common bawdy-house 210(1) I   yes   2 yrs.
Inmate or found in a common bawdy-house 210(2) S   yes 6 mos./$2,000 fine  
Obtain sexual services of a person under 18 yrs. 212(4) I   yes   5 yrs.


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