Posted by Fleet Safety
Demerit points are a system used by the province of Alberta to keep track of traffic violations committed by drivers. When drivers accumulate a certain number of demerit points, they may face penalties such as license suspension or increased insurance rates. If you find yourself with demerit points on your driving record, you may wonder how to remove them.
The first step in removing demerit points is understanding how the system works.
So what are the demerit points, and what can you do to reduce them?
In simple terms, demerit points are penalty points that get attributed to your driving license on conviction of a driving offence. The number of demerits incurred depends on the seriousness of the traffic violations and convictions. The traffic convictions that can result in demerit points are often part of moving violations. Most of the time, a parking violation will not yield demerit points.
However, moving violations that do earn you demerit points on your driving license are speeding, sharp or improper turns, tailing a vehicle too closely, not wearing a seatbelt while driving, crossing/jumping the red light signal or failing to obey a traffic signal, careless driving, improper passing and breaking the rules regarding one-way road or going the wrong way on a divided road. These are some common moving violations for which drivers get demerit points. Keeping yourself updated on the extensive list of possible violations in your home province that can result in demerit points is beneficial.
Certain traffic offences in Alberta come with a set number of demerit points. For example, speeding may result in 2-4 demerit points, while more serious offences like impaired driving may result in as many as 12 demerit points. When a traffic offence is committed, the demerit points are added to the driving record and remain there for two years.
Once you have demerit points on your driving record, you can take several steps to remove them. One option is to wait for the points to expire. As mentioned earlier, demerit points remain on your driving record for two years, after which they will be removed automatically.
Another option to remove Demerit points is to enroll in the Alberta Driver Improvement Program (DIP). The DIP is a remedial driver education program designed to help drivers improve their driving skills and reduce their risk of accidents. By completing this program, you can have up to 3 demerit points removed from your record. This program is only eligible for people who completed the program after the conviction. Moreover, you must undergo an approved defensive or professional driver improvement course.
The defensive driving course must be completed before accumulating eight penalty points for drivers under the graduated driver’s license (GDL) system. In contrast, non-GDL drivers should complete the course before getting 15 or more demerit points. Successfully passing the course with an aggregate of 80% or higher will get you a certificate that can be submitted to your local registry. It will reduce three demerit points of your Alberta driving license. You must be mindful that the government approves not all defensive driving or driver improvement courses. Therefore you must check and take government-approved courses.
Conclusion
In summary, if you have demerit points on your driving record in Alberta, you can remove them by waiting for them to expire, enrolling in the Alberta Driver Improvement Program, or contesting the offence in court. Keep in mind that not all demerit points are eligible to be removed, and it’s essential to understand the specific laws and regulations before making any decisions. You must know that demerit points on your driving record can also increase insurance rates. If you reach a certain threshold, it could result in the suspension of your license, which could have serious consequences in your daily life.
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