How Do Driving Demerit Points Work in Alberta?

In Alberta, driving demerit points are serious business. They can add up fast and lead to license suspensions and higher insurance premiums that will cost you heavily in the long run. 

While your initial instinct may be to just pay the fine that comes with a driving ticket and move on, reducing or avoiding the number of demerit points you receive can be reason enough on its own to fight a ticket. 

Key Takeaways

• Demerit points stay on your record for 2 years and can lead to a license suspension.
• The more severe an infraction is considered under the Traffic Safety Act, the more demerit points you’ll receive.
• It is always worth fighting tickets that come with Alberta driving demerit points to protect your driving record.

What Are Demerit Points?

In Alberta, driving demerit points are used to track driving violations and go on a driver’s record when they are found guilty of committing an offence under the Traffic Safety Act. The more serious a driving offence, the more demerit points you’re likely to be handed, and if you accumulate enough demerit points, you can have your license suspended.

What Are the Repercussions of Demerit Points?

Alberta demerit points stay on your driving record for 2 years, and if you accumulate enough in a 2-year period, your license will be suspended. It’s important to remember that demerit points are added to your driving record on the day of your conviction, not the day that the ticket is issued.

For drivers with full (non-GDL) licenses, you will receive:

• A cautionary notice of how many demerit points you have received if you have built up a total of 8 or more Alberta demerit points but fewer than 15. 
• If you receive 15 Alberta demerit points in Alberta within a 2-year period, your license will automatically be suspended for 1 month.
• A second demerit suspension within a year results in a 3-month license suspension, and a third suspension will be 6 months long.
• It is possible to enter the Restricted Driver’s License Program for work, school, or medical purposes while your license is suspended.
• When your license is reinstated after a suspension, 7 demerit points will remain on your record for 2 years.

For drivers who are still learning and have graduated licenses, you require fewer demerit points before your license is suspended.

• Cautionary notices are mailed out if you received 4 or more demerit points but fewer than 8 within a 2-year period
• Once you receive 8 demerit points, your license is suspended for a month. A second suspension within a year earns you a 3-month suspension, and a third suspension will be six months.

Demerit Points in Alberta (List)

Not every infraction will result in Alberta driving demerit points being added to a driver’s record, but many do. Here are a few common violations and how many demerit points are associated with them:

1. Hit and Run Tickets

Demerit Points: 7

Hit and run charges are the most serious type of violation in Alberta and, as a result, come with huge fines and a maximum of 7 demerit points. Given that the Alberta demerit point system suspends your license when you receive 15 demerit points in a 2-year period, it’s a serious consequence, and it’s always worth fighting a hit-and-run charge.

2. Speeding Tickets

Demerit Points: Between 2 and 6

The cost of a speeding ticket can be expensive, both monetarily and in terms of the demerit points added to your record. Under the Alberta demerit point system, the number of points you receive depends on how fast you were going above the speed limit.

• 1-15 km/hour: 2 demerit points
• 16-30 km/hour: 3 demerit points
• 31-50 km/hour: 4 demerit points
• 51 km/hour or more: 6 demerit points and or suspension

3. Careless Driving

Demerit Points: 6

Also known as stunting, careless driving charges can be for everything from racing another car to tailgating. A careless driving charge comes with 6 demerit points. To be found guilty, it needs to be proven that you were putting the public at risk, so it is always worth fighting a careless driving charge and avoiding both the heavy fines and the Alberta driving demerit points.

4. Failure to Yield at a Stop Sign or Red Light

Demerit Points: 3

These are two of the most common traffic tickets issued in Alberta, and they’ll lead to 3 demerit points being added to your driver’s record.

5. Failing to Yield to a Pedestrian at a Crosswalk

Demerit Points: 4

Keeping pedestrians safe at crosswalks is obviously a priority in Alberta, so it’s no surprise that failing to yield to someone crossing the street after they’ve pressed the crossing button comes with a hefty punishment. 

Why You Should Always Fight Demerit Points in Alberta

When you receive a ticket in Alberta, driving demerit points may initially be less of a concern than the fine you incur. That shouldn’t be the case. 

Because demerit points go on your record and can lead to a license suspension if they add up quickly, they can have real consequences in your day-to-day life, preventing you from doing daily tasks or getting to work, going to appointments, or attending school.

Your driver’s record can also affect the insurance premiums you pay every month, and those costs can actually be more expensive than the initial fine.

That means it’s always worth fighting tickets that come with demerit points with We Defend. Even in situations where charges aren’t thrown out completely, demerit point punishments are often reduced and can save you money in the long run, and even help you avoid a license suspension.

Keep Demerit Points Off Your Record with We Defend

In Alberta, driving demerit points can add up quickly and lead to suspended licenses and increased insurance premiums. 

If you’ve received a ticket that comes with demerit points, We Defend can help you reduce or avoid the demerit points entirely. Our expert team has decades of experience helping Albertan drivers and can help you successfully make your case.

Start with a free consultation.

FAQs About Demerit Points in Alberta