Can a traffic ticket be dismissed in Alberta? Absolutely, and We Defend’s 98% success rate proves it. That incredible success rate also includes tickets that have seen charges reduced, but it’s also proof that working with traffic court experts when you are charged with a traffic infraction and fighting a ticket with We Defend is your best way forward.
Here, we’ll look at what goes into our 98% success rate and how we can help you fight your next traffic ticket.
Key Takeaways
- We Defend’s 98% success rate includes full dismissals, charge reductions, demerit point elimination, fine reductions, and avoided insurance impacts, not just outright wins
- Cases where the evidence is genuinely overwhelming aren’t included in that figure – We Defend only takes on cases where there are real grounds to fight
- The most common reasons cases succeed include officer no-shows, errors or missing information in disclosure, charges that don’t meet the legal threshold, and road or weather context
- The long-term cost of doing nothing—demerit points, insurance premium increases, potential licence suspension—almost always exceeds the cost of fighting
- The 2% of cases that don’t resolve favourably typically involve stronger-than-expected evidence, a judge weighing facts differently, or a Crown that won’t negotiate
What Do We Mean When We Say 98% Success Rate?
How do you define “success” when it comes to traffic court? It’s an important question, and it doesn’t always mean that charges are thrown out entirely. That’s one possible outcome, of course, but our traffic ticket success rate is calculated based on a number of other possibilities, as well. They include:
- Charges being dropped or withdrawn completely
- Charges reduced to a less offence, like a careless driving ticket becoming a minor speeding infraction instead
- Demerit points being eliminated or reduced
- Reductions in fines
- The impact of the charges on insurance being avoided or minimized
In many traffic court cases, the outcome is more complicated than guilty or not guilty. It may be unrealistic for charges to be thrown out entirely, but avoiding demerit points, heavy fines and increases in insurance premiums make it worthwhile to fight tickets.
What Makes a Case Winnable?
Every traffic ticket is a little different and the evidence that’s going to be presented against you matters. For some tickets, the prosecution may have insurmountable evidence that will make it difficult to get a ticket thrown out completely. In many others, though, there are weaknesses in the case against you that can rightfully be identified and presented by traffic court experts.
Common examples include:
- Missing or incorrect information presented in disclosure: This can include radar calibration records and officer notes and can invalidate a charge
- Officer not appearing in court: Charges are typically stayed if the issuing officer doesn’t appear in court, which is not uncommon.
- Charges don’t meet legal threshold: Charges require that evidence meets a certain legal threshold and if the crown’s evidence falls short the charges won’t hold up
- Road and weather conditions: Context matters, and driving behaviour that is deemed to be reckless may have been the result of road conditions, visibility or traffic flow.
Traffic court experts have years of experience reviewing tickets and can review your ticket and the charges against you to look for anything that might help.
What the 98% Doesn’t Cover
There are some cases where We Defend’s traffic court experts will review a ticket and be honest in their assessment that the evidence against a driver is overwhelming. Those aren’t included in We Defend’s 98% success rate, but in cases where the chances of reducing a charge are minute, we will tell a client clearly that that’s our assessment.
Sometimes, paying the fine really is the right move, and our 98% success rate reflects cases where we genuinely believed there were real grounds to fight. Drivers who are assessed tickets shouldn’t be looking for traffic court experts who will take on every case. It can be a waste of their time and money, and knowing which cases to take and decline is an important part of what experienced traffic court experts do.
For example, if a driver was clocked at 40 km/h over the limit by a properly calibrated radar unit with contemporaneous officer notes and no mitigating road conditions, we’ll tell you honestly that the evidence is strong, and that paying the fine may be the more practical decision. That conversation costs you nothing, and it’s one we’d rather have upfront than take your money on a case we don’t believe we can meaningfully improve.
What Happens to the Other 2% of Cases?
It’s rare, as our success rate reflects, but there are still sometimes going to be cases that don’t resolve in the client’s favour. That can happen for a number of reasons:
- Evidence that’s stronger than it first appears
- A judge weighs the facts differently than expected
- The Crown won’t negotiate
The Cost of Doing Nothing When You Get a Ticket
In almost every situation, it’s almost always worth fighting traffic tickets. Yes, there are circumstances where the evidence might be overwhelming, but in most cases the cost of doing nothing and just pleading guilty to a ticket is much more than it will cost to fight it.
When you’re charged for a traffic violation, the costs go much further than you might initially realize. Repercussions include:
- Heavy fines
- Demerit points that can add up quickly and lead to a suspended license
- Increases in your insurance premiums that can wind up being significantly more costly than the initial fine
In Alberta, a careless driving conviction typically triggers an insurance premium increase of 25% or more—and because insurers look back three to five years when calculating your rate, that increase can follow you long after the demerit points have dropped off your record.
For a driver paying $2,000 a year in premiums, that’s potentially $2,500 or more in additional costs before the conviction stops affecting what you pay—an amount that dwarfs both the fine and the cost of fighting the ticket in the first place.
We Defend Tickets Reviews
Here’s what that 98% looks like in practice, in the words of two recent clients.
“Excellent service from start to finish. Communication was very clear, and they were always responsive and helpful throughout the process. Stewart and Derek were both fantastic to work with professional, knowledgeable, and easy to communicate with. The ticket was resolved in my favor, and I’m very happy with the outcome. Really appreciate the support. Highly recommended!” – Jai Khurana
“Absolutely phenomenal service from We Defend Tickets! I was facing a traffic violation and was feeling quite stressed about the whole situation. From the moment I contacted them, I knew I was in capable hands. Stewart and his team were professional, responsive, and clearly explained the process.
Derek represented me in court, and I couldn’t be more impressed with his expertise and dedication. He ran a comprehensive 2-hour trial on my behalf and achieved a complete dismissal of the case. The relief of having this behind me is immense, and it’s all thanks to their skillful representation. If you’re looking for a traffic ticket defense team in Calgary that delivers results, look no further. We Defend Tickets is worth every penny. Thank you to the entire team, especially Derek, for your outstanding work! I highly recommend them to anyone needing expert legal assistance for traffic matters.” – Raymond Thomas
The Team Behind the 98%
We Defend Tickets has been representing Alberta drivers for over two decades. The team is led by Stewart Dixon, who founded We Defend on the belief that every driver deserves the best possible defence when facing a traffic charge, and has spent 20+ years proving it.
What sets the team apart is the range of experience they bring to the table:
Derek Cameron has over 18 years as a traffic defence agent, with deep expertise in court proceedings and working with Crown prosecutors — two of the most critical skills in getting charges reduced or stayed.
Will De Vadder spent years as a police officer before joining We Defend, which gives him a genuinely rare perspective: he understands exactly how officers write their notes and how prosecutors build their cases, and uses that knowledge to find the gaps.
Melissa Lucy served as a Justice of the Peace for over a decade. She knows how courtrooms operate, how commissioners think, and how prosecutors build their cases from the inside, knowledge that’s hard to replicate.
Kristine Dixon manages disclosure requests and not-guilty pleas, ensuring every case is filed accurately and that clients are fully prepared before their court date.
That combination: a former police officer, a former Justice of the Peace, and two experienced traffic defence agents, is why We Defend’s 98% success rate isn’t just a number. It reflects a team that understands Alberta traffic court from every angle.
Fight Your Next Ticket With We Defend
We Defend’s 98% success rate shows why they’re your best option for fighting a traffic ticket. They’ll represent you in court and fight for the best possible outcome and their decades of experience give you the best chance of seeing charges reduced or dismissed.
Reach out and tell us what you’ve been charged with and we’ll give you an honest assessment of where you stand.
FAQ
How is We Defend’s 98% success rate calculated?
We track outcomes across every case we take on, including full dismissals, charge reductions, demerit point eliminations, fine reductions, and avoided insurance impacts. Cases where we assessed the evidence as overwhelming and advised against fighting are not included in the figure. The 98% reflects cases where we identified real grounds to fight and went to court on behalf of our clients.
What are the most common reasons traffic charges get reduced or dismissed?
The most frequent factors we see work in clients’ favour include: errors or missing information in the officer’s disclosure notes, radar calibration records that don’t hold up to scrutiny, charges that don’t meet the legal threshold required for conviction, the issuing officer not appearing in court, and road or weather conditions that provide meaningful context for the driver’s behaviour.
What happens if you miss the deadline to respond to a ticket?
If you don’t pay the fine or notify the court of your intention to fight by the due date on your ticket, you’ll be convicted in absentia. That means the full fine, demerit points, and insurance consequences apply automatically, and you’ll need to pay the outstanding fine before you can renew your licence. If you’ve missed a deadline, contact We Defend as soon as possible to understand your options.
How much does it cost to fight a traffic ticket with We Defend?
The cost depends on the specifics of your case. What’s worth keeping in mind is the comparison: the long-term cost of a conviction—fines, demerit points, and insurance premium increases that can follow you for three to five years—almost always exceeds the cost of fighting. We Defend will give you an honest assessment of your case upfront so you can make an informed decision before committing.
Do I need to appear in court if We Defend is representing me?
In most cases, no. We Defend’s traffic court experts can appear on your behalf, which means you don’t need to take time off work or navigate the court process yourself. We’ll handle disclosure, any First Appearance Centre negotiations, and trial representation if the case proceeds that far.
About the Author
Stewart Dixon is the head of We Defend Tickets. He and his team have been committed to providing honest and exceptional service for Alberta drivers for over two decades, during which We Defend Tickets has successfully represented countless clients.
Stewart believes that you always have the right to the best possible defence when it comes to traffic tickets and driving violations. With him on your side, you’ll be able to fight the charges against you with confidence that you’ll achieve the best possible outcome.