Ontario Demerit Points System

Drivers convicted of certain driving-related offences have demerit points recorded on their records. It is a common misconception that drivers “lose” points due to convictions for certain traffic offences. In fact, a driver begins with zero demerit points and accumulates demerit points for convictions. Demerit points stay on your record for two years from the offence date. If you collect enough points, you can lose your driver’s licence.

Below is a table outlining the demerit point penalties for driving offences:

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 50 km/hour 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/hour

Following too closely

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

Driving while holding or using a hand-held wireless communications or entertainment device (cellphone)

Driving while viewing a display screen unrelated to the driving task

Exceeding the speed limit by 16 to 29 km/hour

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 (move-over)

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

Improper use of a high occupancy vehicle lane

Going the wrong way on a one-way road

Crossing a divided road where no proper crossing is provided

Crowding the driver’s seat

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 (car surfing)

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

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:

2 to 8 points:
You will be sent a warning letter.

9 to 14 points:
Your licence could be suspended. You may have to attend an interview to discuss your driving record. At this meeting, you will need to provide reasons why your licence should not be suspended.

If you have to attend an interview, you will get a letter (Notice of Interview) to notify you of the time, date and location of the meeting. If you do not attend, your licence could be suspended.

The fee for a demerit point interview is $50 and must be paid in person a any ServiceOntario Centre. You can pay the fee when you receive the Notice of Interview or within 10 business days of attending the interview. Failure to pay the interview fee will result in the cancellation of your driver’s licence.

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: 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:
Your licence could be suspended. You may have to attend an interview to discuss your driving record. At this meeting, you will need to provide reasons why your licence should not be suspended.

If you have to attend an interview, you will get a letter (Notice of Interview) to notify you of the time, date and location of the meeting. If you do not attend, your licence could be suspended.

The fee for a demerit point interview is $50 and must be paid in person at any ServiceOntario Centre. You can pay the fee when you receive the Notice of Interview or within 10 business days of attending the interview. Failure to pay the interview fee will result in the cancellation of your driver’s licence.

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

Demerit Points for Out-of-Province Convictions

  • Drivers convicted of a driving related offence in the State of New York, the State of Michigan or any Canadian province or territory, will have home jurisdictional penalties such as demerit points and/or suspensions applied to their Ontario driver record as if the offence occurred in Ontario.
  • Examples of out-of-province convictions where Ontario demerit points and /or suspensions will be applied include:

Traffic

Speeding

Fail to obey stop sign

Fail to obey signal light

Fail to stop for school bus

Racing

Fail to remain or return to the scene of a collision

Careless driving

Criminal

Motor manslaughter

Criminal negligence

Dangerous driving

Failure to remain at scene of a collision

Impaired Driving

Driving while disqualified or prohibited

The Ontario Registrar of Motor Vehicles is required to keep these records under Section 205 of the Highway Traffic Act and may use them for the purposes of administering the Ministry’s Demerit Point System. Inquiries should be directed to:

Licensing Administration Office
Ministry of Transportation
Main Floor, Building A
2680 Keele Street
Downsview, ON M3M 3E6

Tel: 416-235-2999 or 1-800-387-3445

Whatever infraction you are accused of, we will help you keep your driver’s licence !

Contact us for further questions

Montreal Region:
514 990-7884

Other Regions – Quebec – Ontario:
1 877 990-7884

Fax:
450-934-3414

SolutionTicket.com’s Team
“The solution to your ticket problems in Quebec”
229-3221, Autoroute Laval O., Laval (Qc) H7P 5P2

Email:  info@solutionticket.com

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