Demerit Points Blogs
Common questions that we find clients have is what are Demerit Points? How many Demerit Points do I start with? How long are they on my record?
What Are Demerit Points
So to start off Demerit Points is a system used in Ontario for drivers to ensure they follow the driving laws. It’s a point system to penalize drivers that do not follow the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.
A common misconception of Demerit Points is that you have points already on your record. When in fact you start off your driving record empty at zero and accumulate Demerit Points when a conviction is made.
On the Ontario website, they have an entire section explaining Demerit points. If you are convicted and receive Demerit Points they stay on your driving record for two years. Drivers do worry that demerit points are seen by insurance companies, when in fact the insurance companies do not see demerit points but the driving abstract. However, if you collect enough points you can lose your license!
How Can You Get Demerit Points?
So how many points can you get? What convictions give you Demerit points? A full list in detail about what traffic offences apply demerits to your record can be found on ontario.ca. There you can find a list of what offenses or violations accumulate what points on your driving record.
| Violation(Description of Offence) | Highway TrafficAct Offence | Demerit Points |
| Fail to remain | 200 | 7 |
| Careless driving | 130 | 6 |
| Racing | 172 | 6 |
| School bus | 175 | 6 |
| Speeding 50+ | 128 | 6 |
| Speeding 30-49 | 128 | 4 |
| Speeding 16-29 | 128 | 3 |
| Speeding 1-15 | 128 | 0 |
| Follow too closely | 158 | 4 |
| Fail to yield | various sections | 3 |
| Stop sign & Red lights | 3 | |
| Fail to report accident | 3 | |
| Unsafe move – lane or shoulder | 154 | 3 |
| Wrong way | 153/156 | 3 |
| Improper turns | various sections | 2 |
| Fail to share road | 148 | 2 |
| No seatbelt | 106 | 2 |
| Prohibited turns | various sections | 2 |
Demerit Points Consequences
Now what are the consequences for receiving points? That all depends on what license you have. For a new driver the following consequences can be applied:
- 2-5 points you will be sent a warning letter
- 6-8 points your license could be suspended, there is a chance you may need to attend and interview to discuss your driving record
- 9 or more your license is suspended for 60 days
For a full license driver the following consequences can be applied:
- 2-8 points you will be sent a warning letter
- 9-14 points your license could be suspended, there is a chance you may need to attend and interview to discuss your driving record
- 15 or more licensed suspended for 30 days
All the above information on consequences can be found at Ontario.ca
To find out more how The Traffic Lawyers® can help you go to our website www.thetrafficlawyers.ca or give us a call toll-free at 1-877-733-2203. We offer free consultations, either by telephone or in person at one of our office locations
Ontario’s Leading Traffic Offence Law Firm!
If you find yourself with a with a traffic offence, don’t just pay the ticket! Our experienced and trained professional paralegals can help you! If there is a chance for demerit points to go on your record we always suggest disputing. There is a potential to impact your insurance rates! Let The traffic Lawyers ®* help you fight off your charges. Take advantage of our free, no-obligation consultation now from one of our Ontario traffic ticket defence specialists.
Reference
Ontario. (n.d.). Understanding demerit points. Retrieved April 19, 2018, from https://www.ontario.ca/page/understanding-demerit-points
