Tickets & Offenses

The fines and demerit points associated with speeding are based on the alleged rate of travel above the speed limit. The demerit points are as follows:

• 1-15 km over – 2 points
• 16-30 km over – 3 points
• 31 – 50 km over – 4 points
• 50+ km over – 6 demerit points plus possible loss of license for 3 months plus possible incarceration

The fines for speeding range from $57 - $351 depending on your rate of travel. Speeding through a set construction zone will result in an immediate doubling of the normal fine. Every conviction for speeding will stay on your record for a period of 3 years.

Demerit Points and Fines

0-6 depending on offence

Up to $1000.00 - Fines vary depending on the speed and whether you settle in or out of court. In court fine amounts are higher and can add a significant amount to your total payable.

Impact on Insurance Premiums and Other Penalties

Any speeding conviction whether it is for 15 km's over the posted speed limit or 55 km's over the posted speed limit will have a negative impact on insurance

If convicted of Speeding in a construction zone with workers present, your fine may double. A Novice Licence holder will be subject to a licence suspension if convicted of a 4 demerit point speeding ticket. If any driver is convicted of speeding greater than 50 km per hour over the speed limit, the Court may impose a licence suspension.

Regardless of your age, licence class, speed clocked or driving record, it is always a good idea to speak with a knowledgeable POINTTS™ representative to better understand all possible penalties you may be faced with.

What You Need To Know

When driving through built up areas, school zones or a construction zone, it is important to be aware of the posted speed limits as they do change.

Even though there are not many lawful excuses for exceeding the speed limit, it does not mean that you don't have a defence to the charge. The quality of the police officer's evidence is always imperative in any speeding case. At POINTTS™, we know the issues that matter and how to use them to your advantage in court. Our goal is to protect your licence and save you money. A conviction for speeding may have consequences for your insurance rates and can even result in a suspension.

Speeding Chart:

Demerits

Km/h Over	Demerits	Fine
1-15	2	$78-$120
16-30	3	$140-$239
31-50	4	$253-$474
51+	6*	$650-$2000
*may also result in licence suspension in which case you do not get demerit points applied to your driving record

Fines

All fines listed include a 15% surcharge

Km/h Over	Fine
1	$78
2	$80
3	$83
4	$87
5	$89
6	$93
7	$96
8	$98
9	$102
10	$105
11	$109
12	$111
13	$115
14	$118
15	$120
16	$140
17	$149
18	$154
19	$163
20	$167
21	$175
22	$185
23	$189
24	$198
25	$203

Km/h Over	Fine
26	$211
27	$217
28	$225
29	$233
30	$239
31	$253
32	$262
33	$274
34	$285
35	$296
36	$309
37	$319
38	$333
39	$345
40	$357
41	$369
42	$380
43	$393
44	$403
45	$414
46	$426
47	$439
48	$450
49	$462
50	$474

1. Every driver or street car operator approaching a stop sign at an intersection,
   1. shall stop his or her vehicle or street car at a marked stop line or, if none, then immediately before entering the nearest crosswalk or, if none, then immediately before entering the intersection; and
   2. shall yield the right of way to traffic in the intersection or approaching the intersection on another highway so closely that to proceed would constitute an immediate hazard and, having so yielded the right of way, may proceed

Acquiring right of way

2. Every driver or street car operator approaching, on another highway, an intersection referred to in subsection (1), shall yield the right of way to every driver or operator who has complied with the requirements of subsection (1).

Offences

Failing to stop	3 Demerit Points
Failing to yield	3 Demerit Points

Fines

Up to $500.00

Impact on Insurance Premiums

If you are involved in an accident your insurance company will deem you the "at fault" driver and you could be facing massive premium increases, or even cancellation of your policy.

Every person is guilty of the offence of driving carelessly who drives a vehicle or street car on a highway without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway.

If you are charged with Careless Driving, you are always innocent until proven guilty. However, even if your accident wasn't serious, that does not automatically create a defence to this charge.

The police officer may even have told you that he or she had no choice but to give you the ticket and you should just go to court to "get it reduced".  However, at court it's not up to the police officer to make the final decision about your ticket.

It's your licence and insurance rates that are at risk. Careless Driving is a serious charge, with serious consequences and it will require a well planned defence. Your defense team at POINTTS has the knowledge and experience to identify the issues that are important to your case. Our priority is YOU! We want to help you avoid potential insurance premium increases and help keep your driving record clean.

Demerit Points

6 points

Fines

$400.00 – $2,000.00 plus court costs and victim fine surcharge

Impact on Insurance Premiums

A conviction for Careless Driving carries serious ramifications with regards to insurance. Most insurance providers deem Careless Driving a major/serious conviction. Even if you have accident forgiveness, you must be aware that if you are convicted or plead guilty to this charge, you will face substantial increases in your insurance premiums or may be dropped entirely.  Regardless of your driving history, age or licence status the impact on insurance will be severe.

Every driver or street car operator, when meeting on a highway, other than a highway with a median strip, a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal-lights flashing, shall stop before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing and every driver or street car operator on a highway, when approaching from the rear a stopped school bus that has its overhead red signal-lights flashing, shall stop at least twenty metres before reaching the bus and shall not proceed until the bus moves or the overhead red signal-lights have stopped flashing.

Offences

Failure to stop for school bus

Demerit Points

6 points

Fines

Up to $2,000.00 if it's your first conviction;
Up to $4,000.00, or jail for up to six months, or both a fine and jail, if it's a subsequent conviction.

Impact on Insurance Premiums

Could result in massive insurance premium increases, or cancellation of your insurance policy

Section 172 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act states:
No person shall drive a motor vehicle on a highway in a race or contest, while performing a stunt or on a bet or wager.  2007, c. 13, s. 21.  Example: Speeding, 50 km's over the posted speed limit.

Stunt Driving does not only mean you were racing or driving 50 km's or more over the posted speed limit.  Driving with a person in the trunk of a motor vehicle or driving a motor vehicle in a manner that indicates an intention to cause some or all of its tires to lose traction with the surface of the highway while turning constitutes stunt driving as well.

Demerit Points

6 points

Fines

$2,000.00 – $10,000.00

Impact on Insurance Premiums

A conviction for Stunt Driving is serious and could label you as a "high risk driver" by your insurance company. This may mean you could be subject to much higher insurance premiums and your status may affect the type of insurance coverage you are required to carry. Insurance companies also have the right to drop you entirely. A novice or young driver with a Stunt Driving conviction on record could pay thousands of dollars per year for insurance premiums. Before attending court, speak with one of our POINTTS representatives.

Other Penalties

When charged for Stunt Driving, you will receive an automatic 7 day licence suspension in addition to a 7 day vehicle impoundment. Regardless of who owns the vehicle, it will be impounded and you will be responsible to pay impound and towing fees which can range upwards of $700.00 to $1000.00. If convicted of Stunt Driving, in addition to a monetary penalty, you may be subject to a court ordered licence suspension, probation term, imprisonment and / or community service. Subsequent convictions for this charge may mean a significant fine and or imprisonment term. Novice drivers will receive a mandatory licence suspension up to 90 days.

Includes:

• Turn Not in Safety
• Improper Turns
• Improper Passing and Fail to Share Roadway
• Follow too Close

Turn Not in Safety / Improper Turns / Improper Passing / Fail to Share Roadway
These offences put a strong onus on the driver of a motor vehicle to ensure that the movement they are about to make (turning, changing lanes, etc.) is done safely.

While most of these traffic tickets are issued as a result of a collision, a police officer can give you a ticket for one of these offences even if you are not involved in an accident.

Follow Too Close
A driver is not permitted to follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent given the circumstances.  However, it is important to remember that just because you were involved in a collision; it does not mean that you were following too closely.

Demerit Points

2-4 depending on offence

Fines

$60.00-$500.00 depending on offence

1. Where an accident occurs on a highway, every person in charge of a vehicle or street car that is directly or indirectly involved in the accident shall,
   1. remain at or immediately return to the scene of the accident;
   2. render all possible assistance; and
   3. upon request, give in writing to anyone sustaining loss or injury or to any police officer or to any witness his or her name, address, driver's licence number and jurisdiction of issuance, motor vehicle liability insurance policy insurer and policy number, name and address of the registered owner of the vehicle and the vehicle permit number.

Demerit Points

7 points

Fines

Up to $2,000.00, or imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or both, and your licence or permit may be suspended for up to two years

Impact on Insurance Premiums

Could result in massive insurance premium increases, or cancellation of your insurance policy.

Red Light
Every driver approaching a traffic control signal showing a circular red indication and facing the  indication shall stop his or her vehicle and shall not proceed until a green indication is shown.

Amber Light
Every driver approaching a traffic control signal showing a circular amber indication and facing the indication shall stop his or her vehicle if he or she can do so safely, otherwise he or she may proceed with caution.

Offences

• Fail to Stop for Red Light
• Fail to Stop for Amber Light

Demerit Points

3 points

Fines

Red Light: not less than $200.00 plus court costs and victim surcharge

Amber Light: not less than $150.00 plus court costs and victim surcharge

Impact on Insurance Premiums

If convicted of either one of these charges the demerit points will stay on your drivers abstract for 2 years. The conviction however will stay on your abstract for 3 years and should your insurance company find out it can a negatively affect you insurance premiums for up to 6 years

This topic will discuss the demerit point system in Alberta.

Alberta has a demerit point system where demerit points are accumulated against your driver's license for each traffic offence you are convicted off. Demerit points are assigned to a client's driving record in accordance with the Regulations under the Motor Vehicle Administration Act. If you accumulate or receive too many demerit points you can lose your license and your insurance premiums may increase. The Alberta Driver Control Board may suspend your license if they consider you have a poor driving record based on the number of demerit points you have accumulated. The Board can suspend your license for however long they see fit. Prior to the suspension of your license, you will receive a 10-day notice of the hearing. You may attend the hearing to give your statement with or without the presence of a lawyer. Among other things, the Board will consider your driving record, your attitude to driving, and your driving skills when making their final decision.

Demerit points will begin to accumulate on your license from the date of conviction, and will remain on your driving record for 2 years from the date of conviction.

Source: http://clg.ab.ca/programs-services/dial-a-law/demerit-points/

The following offences will result in the indicated number of demerit points:

You will receive 7 demerit points for:

• Failing to remain at the scene of an accident

You will receive 6 demerit points for:

• Speeding more than 50 km/hr over the speed limit
• Careless driving
• Racing

You will receive 5 demerit points for:

• Failing to stop, and provide information to a police officer
• Failing to stop at an uncontrolled railway crossing
• Failure to stop for a vehicle carrying explosives, gas or flammable liquids

You will receive 4 demerit points for:

• Speeding 30 km/hr over the speed limit (up to 50 km/hr)
• Following too closely
• Failing to stop for school bus
• Failure to yield right of way to a pedestrian or another vehicle

You will receive 3 demerit points for:

• Speeding 16 km/hr over the speed limit up (up to 30 km/hr)
• Passing another vehicle in a playground or school zone, at a pedestrian crosswalk, or improper passing.
• Driving on the wrong side of the road or highway
• Failing to yield to the vehicle on the right
• Blocking passing vehicles
• Turning left when unsafe to do so
• Failing to stop before entering a highway, or driveway
• Failing to yield to a pedestrian
• Failing to stop for traffic signs, such as stop signs or yield signs, or proceeding before it is safe to do so.
• Failing to stop at traffic lights (red and yellow) including flashing lights
• Stunting on a highway
• Failing to report an accident
• Impeding a passing vehicle

You will receive 2 demerit points for:

• Speeding over 1 km/hr over the speed limit (up to 15 km/hr)
• Failing to obey traffic control
• Driving outside the right lane of the road and occupying 2 lanes
• Impeding traffic
• Passing on a solid line
• Failing to change lanes safely, or failing to signal change
• Improper turns
• Illegal U-turns
• Unsafe lane change
• Failure to signal
• Failure to obey instructions of traffic control device

Fully licensed drivers who collect a total of 8 but not more than 15 demerit points will receive notification regarding their driving record. If you accumulate 15 demerit points within a 2-year period, your license will be suspended for 30 days. If you accumulate 15 demerit points twice within a 2-year period, you will lose your license for 3 months. If you accumulate 15 demerit points 3 times in a 2-year period, then you lose your license for 6 months. If a suspension Order is issued, there may be conditions that must be completed before the license will be given back. There is also a fee that must be paid before the license is returned.

You may find out how many demerit points you have against your license at the local Alberta Registry Private Service Center. The usual cost of a driver's abstract is approximately $20 plus service charges. You may take an approved defensive driving course before you reach 15 demerit points on your license which will result in 3 points being taken off your license. This can only be done once every 2 years. Your license will be reinstated when your demerit points are down to only 7 demerit points.