In order to provide and maintain safety on the Toronto roadways, the Ministry of Transportation established severe rules and obligations. Indeed, all drivers have to follow them strictly. However, if you commit any sort of violation against Toronto traffic laws you will be fined. In addition, you will be penalized with traffic ticket or even suspension of your driving license.

Depending on severity of the committed offence, you will receive different amount of penalty carried by Toronto traffic ticket. Don't forget, that you will receive not only the penalty that you have to pay. Also, your traffic violation will be put in a driving record as a demerit points.

Due to the severity of the offence, the court defines the number of demerit points that you will receive. In fact, your driving record becomes a "mirror" and reflects all the details of your behavior on the road. It's obvious, the better and safer you drive the less demerit points you will have.

This chart illustrates different offences that are associated with a certain number of demerit points established by the Ministry of Transportations:

Backing on highway - 2
Seatbelt offences - 2
Improper right/left turn - 2
Prohibited turns - 2
Pedestrian crossover - 2
Failing to signal - 2
Unnecessary slow driving - 2
Improper opening of vehicle door - 2
Drive prohibited lane - 3
Failing to obey directions of police officer - 3
Driving or operating a vehicle on a closed highway - 3
Failing to report an accident - 3
Improper passing - 3
Following too closely - 4
Exceeding speed limit by 16 to 29 km/h - 3
Exceeding speed limit by 30 to 49 km/h - 4
Exceeding speed limit by 50 km/h or more - 6
Stunt driving: Exceeding speed limit by 50 km/h or more - 7
Racing - 7
Failing to remain on scene of accident - 7

If you break the limit with your demerit points you will have to attend an obligatory interview that the Ministry of Transportation will assign to you. The information below will help you to understand how the number of demerit points can influence your driving license in Toronto.

6 demerit points - you will receive a warning letter in your mail from the Ministry of Transportation.

9 demerit points - you will be assigned an obligatory interview with the Ministry of Transportation. It's highly recommended not to ignore it, otherwise your driving license will be automatically suspended. In order to protect your license from suspension, you will have to give serious reasons. Plus, you'll have to make plausible explanations of your past driving experience. Finally, you'll be asked to retake a full driver exam including road, vision and rules knowledge tests. The main reason of this examination is to define your possibility to drive carefully according to the established norms. So to say, in the case of failure your driving license will be automatically cancelled.

15 demerit points - as soon as you surrender your license it will be suspended for the next 30 days. You have a choice to pass your license at any Driver & Vehicle License Issuing Office or at the Ministry of Transportation. Both ways are acceptable. Pay attention, that if you refuse to surrender you license the suspension period will be prolonged up to 2 years. When the suspension period is over the number of demerit points on your driving record will be decreased to seven. As a consequence, you will be assigned one more interview with the Ministry of Transportation if you happen to receive any extra points.