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Driver's Licence
Graduated Access to Driving and Demerit Points – New Measures
New measures concerning graduated access to driving for all drivers under age 25 come into effect on June 19, 2011. These measures are intended to complement the new graduated access to driving model.
They introduce an intermediate phase, after the probationary licence, for all driver's licence holders under age 25. As of that date, specific brackets apply to licence holders under age 25. As of that date, specific demerit point brackets apply to all licence holders for whom the demerit point threshold is lowered. Hence, their licence will be cancelled (revoked) more quickly if they commit offences that result in demerit points on their driving record. Their licence could also be revoked for a longer period.
Holders who currently have reached or exceeded the threshold of their new bracket will not have their licence revoked upon implementation of the new measures. However, their licence will be revoked if additional points are entered on their record after June 19, 2011.
| Type of licence | Before June 19 | As of June 19 |
|---|---|---|
| Learner's licence holders and probationary licence holders | 4 points | 4 points |
| Driver's licence holders under age 23 | 15 points | 8 points |
| Driver's licence holders age 23 or 24 | 15 points | 12 points |
| Driver's licence holders age 25 or older | 15 points | 15 points |
Young drivers represent 10% of all licence holders, but they are involved in more road accidents than older drivers. They commit 18% of offences that result in demerit points. In 2010, 24% of drivers who were involved in accidents resulting in bodily injury were age 16 to 24.
New penalty calculation method for all drivers
As of June 19, 2011, all drivers who accumulate a number of demerit points that is equal to or greater than the threshold set for the bracket that applies to them will have their licence revoked. Thus, they lose their driving privilege for a period of 3, 6 or 12 months.
To get a new licence after the penalty period, they will have to make an appointment at an SAAQ service centre*, pass a knowledge test and pay the test and licence fees.
Examples of revocation periods
| Number of demerit points on record | Revocation period | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No penalty on record | A 3-month penalty on record | A 6-month penalty on record | A 12-month penalty on record | |
| 4 to 7 points | 3 months | 6 months | 12 months | 12 months |
| 8 to 11 points | 6 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months |
| 12 points or more | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months |
| Number of demerit points on record | Revocation period | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No penalty on record | A 3-month penalty on record | A 6-month penalty on record | A 12-month penalty on record | |
| 15 to 29 points | 3 months | 6 months | 12 months | 12 months |
| 30 to 44 points | 6 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months |
| 45 points or more | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months |
* Those who were learner's licence holders when they came under penalty should go directly to a service centre so that the SAAQ can issue a new document.
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