Demerit Points Demystified
Alberta uses a demerit point system. Not all traffic offences are subject to demerit points, and minor convictions carry fewer demerits than major ones. Upon conviction of any traffic offence subject to demerits, two to seven demerit points are added to a driver's record.
Demerit points stay on a driver's record for two years from the date of conviction. Government approved demerit point reduction courses are widely available; such courses can be completed online in about six hours, and redeemed for a three demerit point reduction every two years.
However, completing a demerit point reduction course will only serve to mitigate the accumulation of demerit points; it will not insulate drivers or carriers from traffic ticket related sanctions such as insurance premium increases.
Insurers tend to focus on the quantity, seriousness, and frequency of offences on record when it comes to traffic tickets. More information regarding Alberta's vehicle insurance grid rating system can be found here: https://airb-applications.alberta.ca/Grid.
License Suspension: Fully Licensed Driver
In Alberta, a fully licensed driver will receive a courtesy notice by mail once eight demerit points have been accumulated.
If a fully licensed driver accumulates fifteen demerit points within a two year period, their license will be suspended for one month. If this occurs for a second time within a year of the original suspension, their license will be suspended for three months.
If a driver's license is suspended three or more times within a two year period, their license will be suspended for six months and reinstated with seven demerit points; such drivers may also be required to appear before the Alberta Transportation Safety Board.
License Suspension: Graduated Driver's License (GDL)
In Alberta, a GDL driver will receive a courtesy notice by mail once four or more but fewer than eight demerit points have been accumulated.
If a GDL driver accumulates eight or more demerit points within a two year period, their license will be suspended for one month. If this occurs for a second time within a year of the original suspension, the license will be suspended for three months.
If a GDL driver's license is suspended three or more times within a two year period, their license will be suspended for six months and reinstated with three demerit points; such drivers must appear before the Alberta Transportation Safety Board.
