Demerit Points Frequently Asked Questions
Questions answered about how demerit points affect your licence.
How many demerit points do I have?
Drivers start with zero (0) demerit points.
Drivers accumulate demerit points by being convicted of moving violations under the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario.
Where the driver exceeds the demerit points limit for their class of licence the Ministry can suspend the drivers licence.
How many points do I have as a G2 Driver?
G2 drivers, novice drivers including G1 drivers are allowed to be convicted of one ticket with 3 or less demerit points without their licence being affected.
At 6 demerit points the licence will be suspended for 30 days, for a first accumulations. After the 30 days have past the driver may reinstate their drivers licence.
Where a second accumulation occurs the licence shall be suspended the second time for 90 days.
Demerits per drivers licence class:
How do I know if the ticket I received has demerit points?
You can check to see if your ticket has demerit points at this link click here for list of demerit points, or through the Ministry of Transportation.
What is a Demerit Point Interview
Demerit interviews are usually requested of class G drivers who have accumulated 9 or more demerit points.
The driver will receive a notice requiring that the driver attend at the ministry to speak with an interviewer.
At the demerit point interview the officer will want to discuss your driver abstract history and any convictions for traffic or speeding tickets.
The officers concern is the pattern of bad driving, and to ensure that the driver will take corrective action in their driving.
The Ministry officer will want to impress upon the driver that driving in Ontario is a privilege not a right and the ability to drive on the roadways can be revoked at anytime.
At a Demerit Point Interview the Ministry Officer Can:
- suspend the drivers licence for 30 to 60 days
- counsel the driver about their driving habits
- Place conditions upon the driver
- e.g. if they receive one more ticket the licence will be suspended
- any other condition the officer may seem reasonable
When Demerit Points Appear on the Licence
Demerit points are added to the driver’s licence only after the driver has been convicted of the traffic ticket, or the driver pays the ticket.
Drivers can reduce the amount of time demerits are on the driving record by applying for a trial date. The demerit points do not go on the driver record until the court date, which maybe three (3) to twelve (12) months from the offence date, depending upon the court.
Demerit points are kept on the driving record or driving abstract for two (2) years from the date the driver received the ticket, but the demerit points only go on the driving record upon conviction or payment.
The conviction or sometimes called a “line on your abstract” for the traffic ticket goes on the driving record for 3 years from the court date, or 3 years from the date the ticket was paid.
Class G drivers licence holders are allowed to accumulated a total of 15 demerit points.
