Legal Information
Demerit Points
Demerit points can affect your insurance and your ability to legally operate a vehicle.
• Failure to share road
• Failure to signal
• Failure to lower high beams
• Disobeying a sign
• Failure to yield to a pedestrian
• Unnecessary slow driving
• Improper opening of vehicle door
• Towing person on a sled, bicycle, skis, etc.
• Backing up on a highway
• Seatbelt violations
• Speeding 16-29 km/h over the posted speed limit
• Driving through, around or under railway crossing barrier
• Using a cell phone or electronic device
• Failure to report accident
• Improper passing
• Crowding driver’s seat
• Wrong way on a one-way road
• Failure to yield right of way
• Failure to stop for stop sign
• Failure to stop for red or amber light
• Failure to stop for railway crossing signal
• Driving or operating a motor vehicle on a closed highway
• Speeding 30-49 km/h over the posted speed limit
• Following too closely
• Failure to stop for school bus at unprotected crossing
• Careless driving
• Racing/stunt driving
• Speeding 50 km/h over the posted speed limit
• Failure to stop for school bus
• Fail to remain at the scene of an accident
• Disobey police officer when directed
Penalties
The consequences for gaining demerit points depend on how many you have added to your driving record.
As a driver with a full licence, if you have:
- 2 to 8 points: You will be sent a warning letter.
- 9 to 14 points: You will be sent a second warning letter encouraging you to improve your driving behaviour.
- 15+ points: Your licence will be suspended for 30 days.
When your licence is suspended, you will get a letter from the Ministry of Transportation. It will tell you the date your suspension takes effect and that you need to surrender your licence. If you do not surrender your licence, you can lose your licence for up to two years.
Penalties for demerit points for new drivers:
You are considered a novice – or new – driver if you have a G1, G2, M1, M2, M1-L or M2-L licence. As a new driver, you face different consequences for adding demerit points.
As a new driver, if you have:
- 2 to 5 points: You will be sent a warning letter.
- 6 to 8 points: You will be sent a second warning letter encouraging you to improve your driving behaviour.
- 9 or more points: Your licence will be suspended for 60 days.