Demerit Point System: Point Values & Consequences

Understanding the Demerit Point System:

The demerit-point system encourages drivers to improve their behaviour and protects people from drivers who abuse the privilege of driving. Drivers convicted of driving-related offences have demerit points recorded on their records. Demerit points stay on your record for two years from the date of the offence. If you accumulate too many demerit points, your driver's licence can be suspended.

New Drivers - Level One and Level Two:

Two or more points: You will receive a warning letter.

Six points: You will receive a second warning letter encouraging you to improve your driving behaviour.

Nine or more points: Your licence will be suspended for 60 days from the date you surrender it to the Ministry of Transportation. You can lose your licence for up to two years if you fail to surrender your licence. After the suspension, the number of points on your record will be reduced to four.

Fully Licensed Drivers:

Six points: You will receive a warning letter recommending that you improve your driving skills.

Nine points: You will receive a second warning letter encouraging you to improve your driving behaviour.

15 points: Your licence will be suspended for 30 days from the date you hand over your licence to the Ministry of Transportation. You can lose your licence for up to two years if you fail to surrender it. After the suspension, the number of points on your driver's record will be reduced to seven.

Demerit Point Values for Common Offences:

Seven Points:

• Failing to remain at the scene of a collision

• Failing to stop for police

Six Points:

• Careless driving

• Racing

• Exceeding speed limit by 40km/h or more on roads with speed limit less than 80km/h

• Exceeding speed limit by 50 km/h or more

• Failing to stop for a school bus

Five Points:

• Driver of bus failing to stop at unprotected railway crossing

Four Points:

• Exceeding speed limit by 30 to 49 km/h

• Following too closely

• Failing to stop at a pedestrian crossover

Three Points:

• Exceeding speed limit by 16 to 29 km/h

• Driving through, around or under railway crossing barrier

• Driving while holding or using hand-held wireless communications/entertainment device

• Failing to yield the right-of-way

• Failing to obey stop sign, traffic light or railway crossing signal

• Failing to obey directions of a police officer

• Driving wrong way on divided road

• Failing to report collision to police officer

• Improper driving where road is divided into lanes

• Crowding the driver's seat

Two Points:

• Failing to lower headlight beam

• Prohibited turns

• Failing to obey signs

• Failing to share the road

• Improper right or left turn

• Failing to signal

• Unnecessary slow driving

• Reversing on highway

• Driver failing to wear seatbelt

• Driver failing to ensure passengers are properly secured