What You Need to Know About Ontario's Demerit Points for Drivers

In Ontario, you can get demerit points to your licence if you are convicted of breaking driving laws. The penalty points stay on your record for two years from the exact date of the offence.
The number of penalty points you will get varies depending on the severity of your offence. For example, failing to signal or share the road can get you two penalty points. Driving the wrong way can get you three points.
More serious offences like careless driving and racing cost six demerit points. Meanwhile, leaving the scene of a car collision or refusing to stop after a police officer asks you to can get you seven points.
Drivers in the province do not lose any demerit points. They start with zero penalty points and then gain them after committing a traffic offence.
After getting 6 to 8 points, you will receive a warning from the Ministry of Transportation. You will get a second warning letter encouraging you to improve your driving behaviour if you get 9 to 14 points. If you accumulate 15 or more points within two years, the ministry can suspend your licence for 30 days.
New drivers get more severe penalties for the same number of points. They only need 2 to 5 points to get a warning letter. They will receive the second warning letter if they get 6 to 8 points. After getting 9 or more penalty points, the ministry will suspend their licence for 60 days.
There are also reciprocities between other Canadian provinces, territories, and US states. According to the Ontario website, drivers can get demerit points when they violate driving laws in the states of New York and Michigan.
If you or a loved one got injured in a car accident in Ontario, call Diamond and Diamond. Our lawyers can help you understand your rights and get maximum compensation.