When most people calculate the cost of traffic tickets, they look at the fine they’ll pay but don’t necessarily consider how their driving record will be affected. Your driving record, though, is essential to everything from employment to insurance premiums, so it’s always best to avoid adding convictions and demerit points.
How do traffic tickets affect your driving record, though? Let’s take a look:
What Exactly Is a Driving Record?
Many people understand that they have a driving record (or driver’s abstract), but they don’t necessarily understand how it works or how traffic tickets affect it.
Here are a few things to know about your driving record:
- A standard driver’s abstract can be requested for 3, 5, or 10-year periods.
- A driving record includes your name, address, license number, details about your appearance, the status of your driver’s license, conviction information, demerit points, and suspensions.
- Demerit points typically stay on your driver’s abstract for 2 years.
- Convictions for traffic tickets will stay on your driving record for 3 years.
- Parking tickets do not appear on your driving record.
Your driving record can be accessed by yourself, anyone you provide written consent to, and organizations that have an Access to Motor Vehicle Information Regulation agreement, like your employer or insurance companies.
How Do Different Types of Traffic Tickets Affect Your Driving Record?
Hit & Run Tickets
Under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act, there’s no violation more serious than a hit and run ticket. The repercussions are high for hit-and-run traffic tickets, so if you receive one, it is absolutely in your best interest to fight it with the team at We Defend.
Hit-and-run tickets have serious consequences, including affecting your driving record. You can be handed a maximum of seven demerit points, and they stay on your record for two years. Remember that if you accumulate 15 demerit points within a two-year period, your license will be suspended, and a single hit-and-run ticket can put you halfway there.
A hit and run ticket can even be handed out if you lightly bump a parked car and leave the scene without leaving a note, and like any traffic ticket, your insurance premiums will go up for the duration of the time that they are on your record.
Speeding Tickets
While speeding tickets may be relatively common, they can have just as big of an impact on your driving record as other traffic tickets, if not more.
When you’re convicted of speeding in Alberta, you’ll be handed demerit points that will stay on your record for two years. That means your insurance premiums will stay the same for the same amount of time, and if you accumulate 15 demerit points within a 2-year period, your license will be suspended.
The speed you’re driving will impact how many demerit points you’re given:
- 1-15 km/hour over the speed limit: 2 demerit points
- 16-30 km/hour over the speed limit: 3 demerit points
- 31-50 km/hour over the speed limit: 4 demerit points
- 51+ km/hour over the speed limit: 6 demerit points & suspension
Stunting & Careless Driving Tickets
Stunting and careless driving tickets can be issued for a variety of offenses, including doing donuts, wheelies, racing another car, tailgating too closely, or causing excessive engine noise. The charges come with six demerit points that stay on your record for two years, while the charge remains on your driver’s abstract for 3 years.
The increases to insurance premiums can be serious for stunting and careless driving tickets, just like every other form of traffic ticket, and in extreme cases, a jail term of up to 6 months is even possible.
Driving Without Insurance Tickets
While there are no demerit points associated with driving without insurance tickets, that doesn’t mean they don’t go on your driving record. In fact, traffic tickets for driving without insurance stay on your record for up to three years.
That is particularly harmful for this particular type of ticket, as you’ll require insurance before you can drive again, and it can be challenging to find an insurer when a ticket for driving without insurance is on your record. Even if you do, premiums are sure to be high.
Failing to Yield to a Pedestrian at a Crosswalk Tickets
Among common traffic tickets that are issued in Alberta, Failing to Yield to a Pedestrian at a Crosswalk can have more of an impact on your driver’s abstract than some people might expect. This common traffic ticket will result in 4 demerit points, which will stay on your driving record for two years.
Failure to Obey a Stop Sign or Red Light Tickets
Just like the traffic tickets listed above, a ticket for failing to stop at a stop sign or red light can have real repercussions for your driving record. A ticket comes with 3 demerit points, which go on your driving record and can affect your insurance for 2 years.
Why You Should Always Fight Traffic Tickets
The cost of getting a traffic ticket in Alberta goes well beyond just the fine you’ll receive, and the impact they have on your driving record and insurance premiums can be very expensive in the long term. If you’re wondering, “How can I fight a traffic ticket?”, the answer is to give We Defend a call, for starters.
At We Defend, our team has over 80 years of experience helping Albertans reduce or avoid costly fines for traffic tickets and the impacts on their driving records that come with them. Every traffic ticket is different, but our experience allows us to identify areas where we can help reduce your charges.
Fight Your Traffic Tickets with We Defend
Traffic tickets of all kinds can have lasting impacts on your driving record. From demerit points to higher insurance premiums to potential job losses, the repercussions of traffic tickets are serious. At We Defend, our first-hand knowledge of Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act and the legal system helps us make sure you’ll get the best possible outcome when you fight your traffic ticket.
Call us today at (587 )857-5400 or fill out our contact form to start fighting your traffic tickets.
FAQs About Traffic Tickets
How to check if you have traffic tickets online?
You can check if you have traffic tickets online at the Government of Alberta’s Traffic Tickets Digital Service, where you can search by ticket number or by your name.
Is it expensive to fight a traffic ticket?
When you compare it to the costs that come with simply accepting your charge, it becomes clear that fighting a traffic ticket with We Defend is the most cost-effective option. We can help you avoid demerit points and convictions that go on your driving record, which will increase your insurance premiums for up to 3 years.