Class G1 drivers are considered to be “Novice Drivers” by the Ministry of Transportation.

Novice drivers have lower thresholds for speeding tickets and demerit points, that will suspend the drivers licence.

Speeding tickets can dramatically affect G1 drivers, as any conviction will result in two “lines” on the driving record.

1. the conviction for speeding
2. any licence suspension

Class G1 drivers are considered “Novice Drivers” under Ontario Regulation 340/94.

G1 drivers obtain the same demerit points as other drivers but face licence suspensions at different levels.

As well any conviction for violating a class G1 Drivers licence condition will result in a dramatic increase to the insurance rates. The increase in insurance will be for up to three (3) years.

The increase in insurance rates will be because G1 driver will have two convictions on the driving record:

• the conviction for the traffic ticket, and
• the 30 day licence suspension

G1 drivers can only accumulate up to 5 demerit points. At 6 demerit points the licence will be suspended for 30 days.

Where a G1 driver receives any one ticket with 4 or more demerit points, the licence will be suspended for 30 days.

Tickets with 4 or more demerits include:

• careless driving
• following too closely
• fail to stop for school bus
• speeding more than 29km/h

G1 Licence holders who breach any of the conditions and are convicted of the offence are be suspended from driving for thirty (30) days for a first offence.

G1 Licence holders must obey the following driving conditions:

• blood alcohol level of zero
• all passengers must have seat belt
• must not use a cellphone while driving
• not drive on 400 series highway, including
  • Don Valley Parkway
  • Gardiner Expressway
  • E.C. Row Expressway
  • Conestoga Parkway
• must not drive from midnight to 5 a.m
• class G driver must accompany at all times
  • G drive must have 4 years experience
  • blood alcohol must be under .05mgs
  • must be in front seat

Where the police find a G2 licence holder in violation the police may remove the driver and tow the vehicle.

The penalty for violating the Class G1 licence rules are:

• a fine from one hundred and ten (110) to five hundred (500) dollars
• thirty (30) day licence suspension
• any applicable demerit points
• dramatic insurance increases

Where the police find a G1 licence holder in violation any of the conditions, the police may remove the driver and tow the vehicle.

Where a G1 driver is suspended for violating the Novice Driver conditions, the Ministry of Transport will notify the driver by sending them a letter in the mail.

Licence suspensions only start after a conviction has been registered at the courthouse and the Ministry of Transportation has been notified by the court.

The suspension is for 30 days and starts on the day the driver attends a Service Ontario location and surrenders the licence.

After the thirty days have past, the driver may return to the Service Ontario office and pay a reinstatement fee of 281 dollars and the licence will be reinstated.

Any conviction for a G1 Novice driver offence will result in a thirty (30) day licence suspension for a first offence.

Addition convictions are dealt with by an escalating suspension for six (6) months e.g. if convicted a second time the drivers licence suspension would be for six (6) months.

After the suspension period has past the driver will be required to pay a one hundred and eighty (180) drivers licence reinstatement fee to the Ministry of Transport.

G1 drivers accumulate points in the same manner as other driver licence classes for speeding tickets, but have lower thresholds where upon licence suspensions occur.

The penalty for speeding in addition to any fine are:

• 0 to 15km/h
  • fine only
  • no demerits
  • no licence suspension
• 16km/h to 29km/h
  • fine
  • three (3) demerits
  • warning letter issued
  • no licence suspension
• 30km/h to 49km/h
  • fine
  • four (4) demerits
  • 30 day licence suspension
• over 50km/h
  • fine, six (6) demerits
  • immediate seven day suspension
  • vehicle impoundment for seven (7) days
  • possible jail up to six months
  • thirty (30) day to two (2) year licence suspension
  • high risk insurance rates for 3-5 years

Any speeding ticket will affect the insurance rates for novice drivers.

Any accumulation of speeding tickets will make the driver uninsurable with further and increasing licence suspensions.

G1 licence holders accumulate points from traffic tickets like all drivers, but the threshold before a licence suspension is dramatically lower.

• Speeding
  • for thirty (30) kilometres or more than the speed limit
  • four (4) demerit points.
• Following Too Closely
  • four (4) demerit points.
• Careless Driving
  • six (6) demerit points.
• Fail to Remain at the Scene of an Accident
  • six (6) demerit points.
• Stunt Driving
  • immediate 7 day suspension
  • thirty day suspension upon conviction
  • possible additional two year suspension

G1 drivers convicted of traffic tickets, who receive demerit points or are involved in accidents will learn that many insurance companies will be hesitant to offer insurance.

The insurance for a G1 driver will very expensive or the driver will be placed in “high risk insurance” rates.