If you have gotten a traffic ticket before, you may have heard of Ontario’s demerit points system tracks and penalizes drivers who do not obey traffic laws. Drivers are assigned demerit points attached to their licenses when convicted of various offences. The number of demerit points given varies, depending on the offence.
What are demerit points?
Demerit points are damaging strikes on your driving record, given to those who commit offences under the Highway Traffic Act.
How many demerit points can you get?
Different offences have different amounts of points. For novice drivers, the limit is 9 points. Fully G-class licensed drivers may get up to 15 points. Once you reach the 9 or 15 points limit, your driver’s license will be suspended.
Full licence drivers receive a 30-day suspension for the first demerit point violation, and novice licence drivers a 60-day suspension for the first offence. A second demerit point suspension means drivers lose their licence for 6 months.
For drivers with a full licence if you earn:
6-8 points, you will get a warning letter.
9 points you will be called in for an interview with the ministry of transportation.
9-14 points, you will get a second warning letter.
15+ points, your licence will be suspended for 30 days.
Once your license is suspended you, the Ministry of Transportation sends you a letter with the details of your suspension. During this period, you need to surrender your licence. If you do not surrender your licence, you can lose your licence for up to two years.
For new drivers, if you earn:
2-5 points, you will get a warning letter.
With 6-8 points, you will get a second warning letter.
9+ points, your licence will be suspended for 60 days.
Your licence needs to be surrendered during this time; otherwise, you can face losing your licence for up to two years.
Ontario demerit points list
Offences that result in demerit points include:
- Careless driving
- Speeding
- Improper Use of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane
- Use of a hand-held device
Check out this post to learn more about how specific offences impact your driving record.
How long do demerit points last?
Demerit points stay on your record for two years from the offence date. Demerit points can also be earned if drivers violate traffic laws in other Canadian provinces and territories.
It is important to drive safely, and to avoid reckless driving that can result in gaining demerit points, and the loss of your license. If you are facing charges due to reckless driving, the team at Fix-A-Ticket can help you.
Fix-A-Ticket will fight for you
We act in your best interests, with the goal of eliminating your charges. Our legal professionals use their experience to prevent demerit points from living on your record.
Our team at Fix-A-Ticket will fight all charges under the Highway Traffic Act, including commercial vehicle charges (CVOR). Everyone deserves representation. With over 20 years of experience, we will ensure your representation is impactful.
Request a free quote today, or contact us.