Who Is A Novice Driver? Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation defines a “novice driver” as:
*You are considered a novice driver if you have a G1, G2, M1, M2, M2-L or M2-M license
*You can also be considered a “young driver” if you are 21 years of age or younger.
For G1 Licence Holders
Accompanying Driver: A fully licensed driver with a Class G licence and at least four years of driving experience must sit in the front passenger seat.
Hours: Driving is prohibited between midnight and 5 a.m.
Highways: Driving is not allowed on 400-series highways or other high-speed expressways, such as the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) or Gardiner Expressway, unless accompanied by a certified driving instructor.
Zero Tolerance: A zero blood alcohol level is required.
Seatbelts: All passengers must wear a working seatbelt.
For G2 Licence Holders
Passengers (Under 20): If driving between midnight and 5 a.m., a G2 driver who has held their licence for less than six months can have no more than one person under 20 in the vehicle. After six months with the G2 licence, they can have up to three people under 20 during the restricted hours.
Zero Tolerance: G2 drivers also have a zero tolerance for alcohol and drug impairment.
The penalties issued under escalated sanctions are on top of the other court, licensing, and insurance consequences of a conviction. The exact penalty issued by the MTO depends on whether the conviction is a first, second, or later offence that has triggered escalated sanctions. Penalties issued by the MTO are:
· 30-day license suspension for the first occurrence
· 90-day license suspension for the second occurrence
· License cancellation and a requirement to re-apply for a G1/M1 after the third occurrence. Any fees paid, credit received for time spent in the program or BDE credit would be forfeited when the license is cancelled. Please note that in the case of a hybrid driver, only the novice-class license is cancelled on the third occasion; their full-class license is maintained.
Novice drivers such as those with a G1, G2, M1, M2, M2-L or M2-M license have a much smaller potential pool of demerit points as follows:
2 to 5 points:
You will be sent a warning letter.
6 to 8 points:
Your license could be suspended. You may have to attend an interview to discuss your driving record. At this meeting, you will need to provide reasons why your license should not be suspended.
If you have to attend an interview, you will get a letter (Notice of Interview) to notify you of the time, date and location of the meeting. If you do not attend, your license could be suspended.
The fee for a demerit point interview is $50 and must be paid in person at any ServiceOntario Centre. You can pay the fee when you receive the Notice of Interview or within 10 business days of attending the interview. Failure to pay the interview fee will result in the cancellation of your driver’s license.
9 or more points:
Your license will be suspended for 60 days.
When your license is suspended, you will get a letter from the Ministry of Transportation. It will tell you the date your suspension takes effect and that you need to surrender your license.
If you do not surrender your license, you can lose your license for up to two years.