TTAS

During the school year, motorists in Ottawa should be more vigilant when approaching school buses. The safety of our children is at stake … your demerit points as well!

What attitude should you have?

When you are driving near a school bus that is about to stop, The Ottawa Police recommends you do the following :

• When you approach a school bus coming from the opposite direction, stop your vehicle at a safe distance from the front of the bus;
• When you are behind a school bus, always stop your vehicle at least 20 meters from the rear of the bus;
• vDo not start moving your vehicle until the STOP sign is folded, the red lights stop flashing, and the bus is in motion.
• Registered vehicle owners can be charged if they illegally pass a stopped school bus whose red lights are flashing.

Please be aware that school bus drivers must always stop at crossings, but they are not required to activate the red lights behind the bus.

How many demerit points?

If you do not follow the rules above, you may receive a fine with demerit points and possibly risking imprisonment (especially in the case of a repetition).

First offence :

penalty of $ 400 to $ 2 000 and six demerit points.

Each subsequent offence:

penalty of $1 000 to $ 4 000, six demerit points, and possibly imprisonment for up to six months.

Resources related to this article:

• Ministry of Transportation: Information on Road Safety, School Bus Safety for Parents, Children and Motorists (demerit points, penalties and/or imprisonment).

To know the number of demerit points on your record, please contact the Ministry of Transport in Ottawa (613-224-6232)

Hello Everyone,

Demerit points may be repressive for some, but knowing how they are attributed, may become educational for others. Demerit points are given to drivers in Ontario (Ottawa, Cornwall, Brockville …) based on the traffic violations committed. Demerit points are recorded and kept in your file for a period of 2 years.

Demerit points for New Drivers
2 demerit points or more: you will be sent a warning letter
6 demerit points: you may be asked to attend an interview to discuss your drivers’ record and why your license should not be suspended. Should you decide to not attend this meeting, you will probably have your license suspended.
9 demerit points or more: your license will be suspended for 60 days from the date you surrender it to the Ministry of Transport. You may lose your license for up to 2 years if fail to surrender your license.
Once this period of suspension is finished, your demerit points will be reduced to 4. If you accumulate any new demerit points, you could receive a suspension for up to 6 months.

Demerit points for Fully Licensed Drivers
6 demerit points: you will be sent a warning letter
9 demerit points: you may be asked to attend an interview to discuss your drivers’ record and why your license should not be suspended. Should you decide to not attend this meeting, you will probably have your license suspended.
15 demerit points: your license will be suspended for 30 days from the time you surrender it to the Ministry of Transport. You may lose your license for up to 2 years if you fail to surrender your license.

Once this period of suspension has been completed, your demerit points will be reduced to 7. If you get any new demerit points, your license will be suspended for 6 months.

It’s not easy to find your way in this jungle of demerit points! Contact TRAFFIC TICKET ADVISORY SERVICES in Ottawa to learn more!