Ontario Regulation 455/07 and Demerit Point System

In order to protect the general population from reckless drivers, the provincial government has created rules and regulations that must be complied with should drivers like to retain possession of their licence. However, they must also be able to identify, discourage, and penalized offenders of these traffic laws. The main purpose of the Ontario Regulation 455/07 and the Demerit Point System is to do just that; these laws ensure our safety by helping to reduce the number of careless drivers on the road.

The Demerit Point System is one in which demerit points are accumulated as traffic offences are committed. Drivers begin with zero demerit points and receive them when they are convicted of certain driving-related offences. Demerit points remain on their record for two years from the offence date. As a new driver, if you violate any rules and accumulate nine demerit points your license will be suspended for 60 days. If you do not surrender it to ministry, it can be suspended for up to two years. As a fully licensed driver, if you receive 15 points you will lose your license for 30 days as well. If you repeat this your license will be suspended for six months.

The Ontario Regulation 455/07 defines the terms “race,” “contest,” and “stunt” quite extensively. The first two terms can be defined as any activities where one or more persons engage in attempting to outdistance one another while traveling at speeds far greater than the lawful speed limit, thus endangering other drivers on the road. A “stunt” can be defined multiple ways, including an attempt to lift one or more tires from the ground, driving 50 km/h or more over the legal speed limit, and driving with a person in the trunk of a motor vehicle. The consequences for entering into these types of activities include fines from $2 000 up to $10 000, an immediate suspension of the participant’s licence, and immediate impoundment of the vehicle.