In Quebec, Canada you do not start out with demerit points but points are assessed and entered on the record of drivers who commit certain offences under the Highway Safety Code or under a municipal by-law, provincial or federal statute or regulation concerning road safety.
The Societe de l'Assurance Automobile du Québec (SAAQ) which is the licensing agency for Canadian province of Quebec uses a demerit point system that reflects the severity of each violation of the Highway Safety Code. The maximum number of demerit points that are allowed before legal penalties come into effect differ according to the type of driver's license.
If you hold a probationary or learner's license in Quebec then only a maximum of 4 demerit points is allowed for the period of the license. If a license holder reaches the maximum number, the SAAQ suspends the license for 3 months. These 3 months are added to the months that remain on the time left to complete your learning period or probationary period.
[Let CarInsurance.com help you find affordable auto insurance now.] This above rule also applies to the following individuals:
- Persons who have never held a driver's license;
- License holders authorizing operation of a moped (Class 6D) who are under age 25 and who have held a license for at least 5 years.
If you hold a regular full Quebec driver's license than a maximum of 15 demerit points is allowed. The SAAQ issues a notice when 7 or more demerit points have been entered on your driving record. A new notice is issued each time additional demerit points are entered on your driving record.
Your driver's license is automatically revoked or the right to obtain a license suspended when 15 or more demerit points have accumulated or been entered on your driving record. A license will be revoked even if you do not receive one of the notices listed above.
According to the SAAQ, demerit points remain on your record for 2 years following the date of a guilty verdict or payment of a fine. Payment of a fine amounts to a guilty verdict.
Each time the SAAQ suspends a learner's or probationary license, revokes a driver's license or suspends the right to obtain one of these licenses, depending on the case, 4 or 15 demerit points are removed from your driving record. Any remaining demerit points stay on your record.
It is specifically noted that no demerit points are removed when:
- a learner's license is issued;
- a probationary license is issued or a driver's license renewed;
- a new license is issued at the end of a penalty period.
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The SAAQ has a demerit points table on their site if you wondering which traffic offenses come with demerit points and how many are assigned for various offenses. Remember demerit points are entered on a driver's record following conviction of an offence or, its equivalent, payment of the fine, once the Société has the judgment in its possession or been advised of the fact by the court.
So you do not lose points but gain demerit points on your license if you are convicted of certain traffic violations. The higher the number of points you have the worse your driving record. Having no points on your license is what you want, so you want to lose points not gain them.
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