A routine traffic stop in Toronto in 2007 has ended with a remarkable legal victory almost two decades later, after a judge finally heard an appeal that had effectively disappeared inside the court system. Neville Greene was issued a red‑light ticket, challenged it, and then waited year after year for his appeal to be resolved.
Greene pleaded not guilty at the time, arguing that roadworks at a busy intersection forced him into a difficult position as traffic lights changed. Police maintained there was no construction present and the case came down to conflicting accounts. Greene attempted to support his version with photographs taken the following day, showing work underway at the site.
Those images were dismissed by the original court, with the justice of the peace refusing to admit them as evidence and rejecting Greene’s attempt to clarify how they could be properly submitted. He was convicted, fined, and given demerit points, but immediately lodged an appeal.
What followed was an extraordinary wait. For almost 18 years, Greene repeatedly contacted the courts seeking updates, only to be told little or nothing. The appeal was eventually heard in 2026, with Ontario Court Justice Brock Jones noting that the delay appeared to stem from paperwork being lost for an extended period.
In his ruling, Justice Jones overturned the conviction, finding that Greene had not received the assistance required to ensure a fair trial, particularly as a self‑represented defendant. The judge was also critical of how the original decision failed to address key issues raised during the hearing.
After nearly two decades, Greene’s red‑light violation has been wiped from the record, closing one of the longest and most unusual traffic disputes in recent Canadian court history.
