Demerit Points (POA)

Understanding demerit points

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/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
• 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/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
• 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
• 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 seatbelt