The demerit system in Ontario luckily is one that is fairly easy to understand and follow (not always the case in other provinces). Ontario uses an accumulative system, meaning that demerits you receive will result in a specific consequence based on your total amount of demerits.
Application of 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 signalled 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 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
3 demerit points will be added if you are convicted of:
- 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
- failing to move, where possible, into another lane when passing a stopped emergency vehicle
- 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
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
