Demerit points, tickets and licence suspension in New Brunswick

By the end of this topic you can

• You can explain how the newly licensed driver points system works.
• You can name common offences and their point values.
• You can describe what happens when points run out.
• You can explain how a points suspension affects your graduated licence.
• You can judge which habits put your licence most at risk.

What you need to know and understand

• A newly licensed driver is anyone licensed for less than four years.
• A newly licensed driver is credited with 4 points when first licensed and gains 2 more each year, up to a maximum of 10.
• If a newly licensed driver loses all their points, the licence is suspended.
• For other drivers, being assessed 10 points brings a suspension, normally three months for Motor Vehicle Act offences.
• On a graduated licence, losing all your points means a three-month suspension and a return to the start of the program.
• The handbook says demerit points are returned two years after the conviction date.
• The Registrar sends written warnings as points build up, including when a driver reaches 7 to 9 points.

Points for common offences

These values come from section 297 of the Motor Vehicle Act or the province's own pages. They are examples, not a full list.

• Criminal Code offence involving a vehicle: 10 points
• Driving without due care and attention, or racing: 6 points
• Passing a stopped school bus with flashing red lights: 6 points
• Speeding more than 80 km/h over the limit: 6 points
• Speeding more than 25 km/h (up to 80 km/h) over the limit: 5 points
• Using a hand-held device: 5 points
• Failing to report a collision: 5 points
• Speeding 25 km/h or less over the limit: 3 points
• Not slowing down and moving over for a stopped emergency or service vehicle: 3 points
• Passing a cyclist with less than one metre of space: 3 points
• Breaking certain graduated licence conditions, such as the Level 2 night rules: 3 points
• Driver not wearing a seatbelt: 2 points

A worked example

Sam has held a Level 2 licence for eight months and was first licensed 14 months ago, so Sam has 6 points (4 at the start plus 2 after the first year). Sam is caught going 30 km/h over the limit (5 points), leaving 1 point. A seatbelt ticket a month later (2 points) uses up the rest. Sam is suspended for three months and then starts the graduated program again, with no credit for the road test or any driver training course already passed.

Other ways to lose your licence

The handbook explains that a first points suspension within three years may be appealed to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, but an appeal does not guarantee your licence back.

• Driving or allowing someone to drive an uninsured vehicle.
• Breaking the zero alcohol and drug rule on a graduated licence (one-year suspension and restart).
• Criminal Code driving convictions, which bring longer suspensions.
• Driving while suspended, which the handbook says brings a further 12-month suspension on a first conviction.

Common mistakes

• Thinking a new driver has 10 points to lose like everyone else. You start with 4.
• Treating small speeding tickets as harmless. Two of them can end your graduated licence.
• Ignoring a warning letter from the Registrar instead of changing your driving.
• Forgetting that a points suspension resets your road test pass and course credit.

Test yourself: Demerit points, tickets and licence suspension in New Brunswick

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• New Brunswick Demerit Points and Zero Tolerance for New Drivers
• Getting a Driver’s Licence in New Brunswick
• New Brunswick Driver’s Handbook Study Guide