Demerit points in Alberta are no joke. While the first instinct of many drivers is to worry about the fine when they receive a ticket, Alberta demerit points can have real consequences as well. They stay on your record for two years, can eventually lead to a suspended license.
You don’t just need to accept your demerit points, though. The team at We Defend has decades of experience helping Albertans reduce or eliminate the demerit points they receive with tickets.
Here’s how you can reduce demerit points in Alberta.
What Is the Demerit Point System?
Demerit points in Alberta are used to track driving violations on a driver’s record in accordance with the Traffic Safety Act. Not every ticket will result in demerit points in Alberta, but the more serious the conviction, the more demerit points will be added to your driving record. Traffic tickets in Alberta can carry up to seven demerit points.
They can have serious repercussions, too, including:
- For fully licensed (Class 5) drivers, getting 15 demerit points in Alberta over a two-year period results in a one-month license suspension.
- If your license is suspended twice in a year, you’ll get a three-month suspension.
- For drivers with graduated licenses, getting eight points results in a one-month license suspension.
How Do You Check Demerit Points?
If you’re not sure how many demerit points might be on your driving record, it is fortunately easy to check. You can go to a registry agent and request a copy of your driver’s abstract.
How Long Does a Demerit Point Stay on Your Record?
Demerit points in Alberta stay on your driving record for two years from the time of your conviction before being removed. There are other ways to get demerit points in Alberta removed from your record, though, including passing a defensive driving test, which will remove three demerit points.
How Many Demerits for Class 5?
Under Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act, drivers with a Class 5 license can accumulate 15 demerit points within a two-year period before facing a one-month license suspension.
If you receive a second demerit driving suspension within a year, your license will be suspended for three months. For a third suspension within two years, your license will be suspended for six months, and you may be required to have a review conducted by the Registrar of Motor Vehicle Services.
How to Reduce Demerit Points
There are a couple of options for how you can reduce demerit points, but the most important step is fighting your ticket. Demerit points in Alberta are a significant concern, and for serious offences, such as hit-and-run tickets, you can be given up to seven demerit points.
Speeding tickets can earn you up to six demerit points in Alberta, while offences like failing to yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk come with four demerit points.
But it’s always worth fighting these tickets. At We Defend, we can help you fight your traffic ticket. Even if you are still found guilty, it’s possible to have the number of demerit points you receive reduced.
How Fighting Tickets in Court Reduces Demerit Points
In Alberta, traffic fines and demerit points can cause real issues in your life. The fines themselves are expensive, and getting too many Alberta demerit points can lead to a license suspension, which will affect your ability to get to work or important appointments. When you factor in how your insurance premiums might also increase significantly, it’s obvious that it’s best to fight any ticket and try to reduce the number of demerit points you’ll receive.
Our team has decades of experience helping Albertans and understands how the court system works. We’ll help you with the goal of reducing or even eliminating your demerit points if you successfully fight your case.
The most effective way of reducing demerit points in Alberta is to avoid getting convicted, so your best option is always to fight whatever ticket you receive.
Taking a Defensive Driving Course
If you are convicted of your driving offence and are concerned about accumulating enough demerit points in a two-year period that your license might get suspended, you can take a defensive driving course to reduce your demerit points in Alberta.
The Alberta Motor Association is one of the companies that offers the course, and they estimate it takes six and a half hours to complete. Once you’ve passed the course, you can get three demerit points removed from your driving record.
Avoid Costly Demerit Points with We Defend
Demerit points have real consequences, ranging from increased insurance premiums to the possibility of having your license suspended.
While many people automatically just accept the consequences when they receive a ticket, you don’t have to. Fighting a ticket with We Defend can save you money in the long run, but it can often also result in a reduction in the number of demerit points you receive. That alone makes it worth fighting almost any ticket you receive on the road.
If you need help fighting a ticket, We Defend is here to help. Call us at (587) 841-5248 or email us at thedefender@shawbiz.ca to get started today.
FAQ
How many demerit points for a speeding ticket?
This depends on how fast you were going. The faster you were driving above the speed limit, the more demerit points in Alberta you’re likely to receive. You can receive two demerit points if you were going between 1-15 km/hour above the speed limit, and the penalties get progressively worse from there. If you’re caught going 51 km/hour or more above the speed limit, you could receive six demerit points.
Can I get demerit points reduced in court?
Yes. The best way to reduce demerit points in Alberta is by fighting your ticket. You can see them reduced or even eliminated entirely.