OP and a few others who have chimed in, please permit me to give you some insights. First as has been explained "probable cause" does NOT apply to a traffic stop, in Canada. it is truly a "creation" of US style shows. ANY officer has the right anywhere in Canada, (Meaning it doesn't change between provinces), to stop a vehicle being operated on any PUBLIC road in Canada. This has been tested right up to the Supreme Court.
When "calling in" a traffic stop the officer does NOT provide a reason, (to the dispatcher), for the stop merely that he is stopping a vehicle and the plate number. The only person(s) the officer has to explain why he made the stop to are the driver being stopped, and his supervisor if the supervisor stopped and asked why the stop was made.
I too have gotten these same two tickets, while driving my cage to work at5 am on a Sunday. I knew the reason I was stopped was the time of day and that meant there would be a possibility that I would be impaired. I didn't question the officer, I was in the wrong as I didn't have the paperwork with me, (I had taken it out of vehicle as I was calling for quotes the day before). I simply went to first meeting with crown, he asked if I had the documents, I showed them to him he canceled both tickets, (Total time at court house was less than 30 minutes, had to wait my turn to be called).
Now OP, As an ex copper let me explain a FACT to you. Doesn't matter how polite and respectful you think you were being in questioning the officer, and "pointing out the relevant HTA sections" I can assure you the officer is well versed with the relevant HTA sections and doesn't require a refresher course from you. The reason for the stop given by the officer is one of those "discretionary violations" meaning it is based primarily upon the officer's "opinion". Your more than welcome to question his opinion, BUT as you discovered there will be a cost of doing so. Now in this case, the cost will be merely your time to attend the first meeting with crown to produce the documents. Your correct in your stated intentions of simply showing up let the crown do all the talking and produce the documents when asked to do so. I would strongly advise, (for others in the future), to not mention that it was BS that you had to miss time from work for this s hit etc, because the crown is under NO obligation to dismiss the charges.
Now you say you would have been happier if the officer had said I stopped you for a document check, and perhaps YOU would have been but experience has taught me MOST wouldn't and would demand "a better reason". So that "could" be why you were given the plate as a reason. The stop was not as you categorized it earlier "an illegal traffic stop"
I have been stopped and given a ticket for a seat belt violation, (there is a post on here about it). I KNEW I had my seat belt on, I knew the seat belt had been altered when the truck was customized by a previous owner in the USA. I could have argued the point on the side of the road with the officer. Instead I took the ticket when asked to show the officer if the seat belt worked I reached into truck and fastened it. I never said a word to the officer other than thank you have a nice day, and took my ticket. Before my court date I had the seat belt returned to the OEM position took photos. When I went to court I showed my evidence to the crown who showed it to the officer. They decided to withdraw the charge, the officer asked to speak outside of court, he asked why I hadn't told him that when he stopped me. I said because as a former copper I knew that meant you could have then tagged me for improper equipment and I had NO defence to that charge, I had a defence to the seat belt violation. Point is, even if you THINK your right best to shut up let the officer do as they will if you KNOW you have a defence then the place to present the defence is in court to the crown NOT roadside by questioning the officer, (Even if you think, and I can assure you it wasn't viewed as such, that your being polite and respectful). Does it suck to have to be quiet, and accept it, sure it does, and I say this having been on BOTH sides, as an officer and as the one pulled over.
Regardless of why you didn't have the documents when asked to produce them is not relevant at all. You are required to have them ready for inspection at ALL times, there is no just excuse, which is why the HTA doesn't say you must produce them "unless" XY and Z...lol
So in the end take the tickets and your documents to the crown and best of luck. Officers used to provide 12 hours to produce tickets, but the bosses said that created too much paperwork, let the crown do the extra step of withdrawing the charges etc. So no longer offered, (not a decision the officers made, just following a directive from higher ups).
As for the I was the only vehicle of 30 that were speeding that got stopped, the officer can't possibly stop all 30 and in reality with the high number of riders without proper insurance the cop is just "playing the odds" that he may end up getting more. Just as he/she would be more likely to stop a hopped up civic being driven by a 20 year old than he is by stopping a minivan with a soccer mom and 3 kids in the van. We seen a thread recently where a rider complained that an officer stopped two bikes moving at roughly the same speed for speeding, (I do agree with the argument that only one should have been ticketed), and the complaint was he can only radar or laser ONE vehicle so that is why only ONE vehicle gets stopped even if there are 30 on the road the alternative is to let everyone speed.
Keep your cell phone in your pocket. Don't take pictures. That's one sure fire way to rub a cop the wrong way.
