The Myths about demerit points in Ontario

 

Everyone thinks that demerit points are hand in hand with insurance rates in Ontario. This is untrue.

Different Provinces have different rules when it comes to demerit points. In Ontario our insurance companies look at the charge itself being minor, major or serious. Different tickets hold different weight on insurance.

Insurance companies also have different rates depending on where you live- Southern Ontario has normally higher rates over Northern Ontario as it is all based on statistics.

Every day I get a call about somebody complaining their insurance went up and they can't understand it because the ticket had Zero Demerit points. What actually happened was this driver had several minor offenses on the record therefore raising insurance rates.

Before you pay a ticket contact us. We will tell you free of charge if a ticket should be fought- always open and honest with clients and potential clients.

How demerit points are applied

The number of points added to your driving record depends on the offense. Here are the number of points that will be recorded for certain violations.

7 demerit points will be added if you are convicted of:

• failing to remain at the scene of a collision
• failing to stop when signaled or asked by a police officer

6 demerit points will be added if you are convicted of:

• careless driving
• racing
• exceeding the speed limit by 40 km/h or more on roads with a speed limit of less than 80 km/h
• exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/h or more
• failing to stop for a school bus

5 demerit points will be added if you are convicted of:

• failing to stop at an unprotected railway crossing (for bus drivers only)

4 demerit points will be added if you are convicted of:

• exceeding the speed limit by 30 to 49 km/h
• following too closely
• failing to stop at a pedestrian crossover

3 demerit points will be added if you are convicted of:

• driving while holding or using a hand-held wireless communications or entertainment device
• driving while viewing a display screen unrelated to the driving task
• exceeding the speed limit by 16 to 29 km/h
• driving through, around or under a railway crossing barrier
• driving the wrong way on a divided road
• driving or operating a vehicle on a closed road
• failing to yield the right-of-way
• failing to obey a stop sign, traffic control stop/slow sign, traffic light or railway crossing signal
• failing to obey the directions of a police officer
• failing to report a collision to a police officer
• failing to slow and carefully pass a stopped emergency vehicle or a tow truck with its amber lights flashing
• failing to move, where possible, into another lane when passing a stopped emergency vehicle or a tow truck with its amber lights flashing
• improper passing
• improper driving when road is divided into lanes
• going the wrong way on a one-way road
• crossing a divided road where no proper crossing is provided
• crowding the driver’s seat
• driving a vehicle equipped with a radar detector
• improper use of a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane

2 demerit points will be added if you are convicted of:

• improper right turn
• improper left turn
• improper opening of a vehicle door
• prohibited turns
• towing people — on toboggans, bicycles, skis
• unnecessary slow driving
• backing on highway
• failing to lower headlamp beams
• failing to obey signs
• failing to stop at a pedestrian crossing
• failing to share the road
• failing to signal
• driver failing to wear a seat belt
• driver failing to ensure infant/ child passenger is properly secured in an appropriate child restraint system or booster seat
• driver failing to ensure that a passenger less than 23 kg is properly secured
• driver failing to ensure that a passenger under 16 years is wearing a seat belt
• driver failing to ensure that a passenger under 16 years is sitting in a seat that has a seat-belt

Penalties for demerit points

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:

6 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 behavior.

15+ points: Your license will be suspended for 30 days.

When your license 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 license.

If you do not surrender your license, you can lose your license for up to two years.

Penalties for demerit points: new drivers

You are considered a novice – or new – driver if you have a G1, G2, M1, M2, M1-L or M2-L license. 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 behavior.

9 or more points: Your license will be suspended for 60 days.

When your license 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 license.

If you do not surrender your license, you can lose your license for up to two years.

Escalating Penalties

If you are a novice driver and have committed an offense resulting in demerit points, you may also receive a license suspension or cancellation under Ontario’s escalating penalties program.

All drivers face penalties if they violate the laws of Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act. Novice drivers can also receive “escalating” penalties – consequences that get stiffer with each similar offense – for breaking certain laws.

Escalating penalties can apply if you are:

• convicted of breaking graduated licensing rules
• convicted of a Highway Traffic Act offense that results in four or more demerit points (e.g., street racing, careless driving)
• subject to a court-ordered suspension for a Highway Traffic Act offense that would have otherwise resulted in four or more demerit points

For a first offense: your driver’s license is suspended for 30 days.

For a second offense: your driver’s license is suspended for 90 days.

For a third offense: you will lose your novice license. You will need to re-apply for your license and start all over, taking all tests and paying all fees. You will also lose any time discount you earned, any time you were credited, and any fees you have paid.

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