Difference between revisions of "The Points System and ICBC"

{{REVIEWEDPLS | reviewer = Krista Prockiw, ICBC |date= February 2024}} {{Dial-A-Law TOC|expanded = cars}}  

People using BC’s roads want to be confident they’re safe. ICBC’s '''penalty points''' system is designed to help with that, by discouraging high-risk driving. But the points system can be confusing. Learn how penalty points work, and how they affect your insurance premiums.

In BC, the main law that deals with traffic and driving is called the ''[https://canlii.ca/t/847n Motor Vehicle Act]''. If you get a ticket for violating this law — for example, for speeding or [https://www.peopleslawschool.ca/distracted-driving/ distracted driving] — you typically get driver penalty points on your driver’s record.  

These penalty points are in addition to any fine you have to pay for the violation.

====How many points you get====

The number of points you get depends on the driving violation. For example, all speeding violations are three points. Distracted driving earns you four points. Driving while prohibited gets you 10 points.  

Here are more examples of driving violations and the penalty points attached to them.

 

Canada’s ''[https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/stat/rsc-1985-c-c-46/latest/rsc-1985-c-c-46.html#sec320.11 Criminal Code]'' also includes some driving offences. For example, dangerous driving or impaired driving. The penalty points for these offences range from six to 10. Again, these are in addition to any fine you have to pay.  

 

====Parking tickets====

You don’t get any penalty points for parking tickets or other minor violations of city bylaws.

 

Driver penalty point premiums are separate from your basic insurance premiums. (Everyone in BC who owns a vehicle must have [https://www.icbc.com/insurance/Pages/Default.aspx basic vehicle insurance] from ICBC.) Driver penalty points attach to your driver’s record, so you can be billed for these points even if you don’t own or insure a vehicle.  

====How much you may have to pay====

The dollar amount of the penalty point premium depends on the number of points you received in the assessment period. If you have three or fewer, you don’t need to pay any penalty point premium.

ICBC has a [https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/tickets/Pages/Driver-Penalty-Points.aspx full list of the penalty point premiums].

====How long points stay on your driving record====

The driver penalty points you accumulate '''stay on your driving record for five years'''. But you only pay the premium once. You’ll receive an invoice just prior to your assessment date, which is usually your birthday.

| text = '''Optional insurance premiums'''

A poor driving record can impact the premiums you pay for optional auto insurance, too. Drivers with frequent or serious driving convictions over a three-year period pay more for optional ICBC insurance coverage. See [https://www.icbc.com/about-icbc/newsroom/Documents/Optional-driving-convictions-factsheet.pdf this factsheet] for details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* one or more driving-related ''[https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/stat/rsc-1985-c-c-46/latest/rsc-1985-c-c-46.html#sec320.11 Criminal Code]'' convictions

* one or more 10-point ''[https://canlii.ca/t/847n Motor Vehicle Act]'' convictions

Each year, ICBC reviews your driving record for offences in the previous three years. The amount of the driver risk premium depends on the number and type of convictions you get. For example, the driver risk premium for one Criminal Code conviction (like impaired driving) is $1,108. For two roadside suspensions, it’s $453.  

You’ll receive one driver risk premium invoice per year just prior to your assessment date, which is usually your birthday. Since the assessment period is three years, a single conviction may result in a driver risk premium bill in each of the three years.

If you have a driving conviction to which the penalty point premium and the risk premium both apply (excessive speeding, for example), you’ll only be billed for the higher premium.  

There are steps you can take to lower or eliminate your driver risk premium. One is to give up your driver’s licence for your entire billing period. This eliminates your risk premium. If you hand in your licence for at least 30 days during your billing period, your premium may be reduced. [https://www.icbc.com/about-icbc/contact-us/Pages/Default.aspx?step=1 Contact ICBC to discuss your options].

===Too many points may lead to a driving prohibition===

Racking up points can have consequences beyond penalty points and increased insurance premiums. Those who get too many points may be temporarily prohibited from driving.  

A common assumption is that, for those with a '''class five licence''' (the basic licence), nine to 11 penalty points leads to a prohibition. And for those with a '''class seven licence''' (for new drivers), it’s four points. This is a good rule of thumb, but it’s not the full picture. [https://www.canlii.org/en/bc/laws/stat/rsbc-1996-c-318/latest/rsbc-1996-c-318.html#sec93 Under the law], ICBC has a wide discretion to impose a driving prohibition. It’s the circumstances behind why you got the points that ICBC looks at.

For example, say you’re a class five driver and you have seven penalty points. Those points came from two offences: excessive speeding and distracted driving. ICBC considers these high-risk offences, so they may issue you a driving prohibition even though you’re below the nine-point threshold. In other words, high-risk offences are more likely to get you in trouble.

ICBC also looks for patterns of conduct. A driver who keeps getting ticketed for the same offence is more likely to get a driving prohibition. The focus here is on a continuing disregard for the rules of the road, rather than the total number of points.

| text = '''You can apply for a prohibition review'''

If you receive a driving prohibition, you may be able to apply for a review. This is a legal process you can use to challenge your prohibition. An adjudicator will review any evidence or statements you provide, and decide whether to revoke your prohibition. See the [https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/roadsafetybc/prohibitions/apply-online provincial government’s website for details].

Penalty points are added to your driver’s record if you plead guilty to a driving offence. (Or if a court convicts you of an offence.) If you pay a traffic ticket, you’re admitting you are guilty.

If you don’t agree with a ticket, you can dispute (fight) it. Most tickets must be disputed '''within 30 days'''. But check the ticket carefully in case there is a shorter time limit.

For step-by-step guidance, see [https://www.peopleslawschool.ca/if-you-get-traffic-ticket/ how to dispute a traffic ticket].