What Happens if a G2 Driver Gets a Ticket in Ontario?

When a G2 driver receives a traffic ticket and is convicted, demerit points are added to their driving record in the same amounts as any other driver. Speeding 15 km/h over the limit, for example, still results in three demerit points whether you hold a G2 or a full G licence. The type of offence determines the points, not your licence class.

While the points per offence are the same, the threshold at which action is taken is lower for G1 and G2 (novice) drivers compared to fully licensed drivers. Novice drivers face consequences sooner, which reflects the higher risk period of early driving.

G2 drivers must also comply with specific conditions: zero BAC, no driving between midnight and 5 a.m. (for the first year after passing G2), carrying no more passengers than seat belts, and having a fully licensed driver in the front passenger seat only if required (the G2 restrictions do allow solo driving). Violating any G2 condition is a separate ticket with its own fine and demerit points.

Any conviction on a G2 driver's record affects their insurance premiums. At renewal, insurers look at your abstract. A speeding ticket or careless driving conviction can increase premiums significantly. For young drivers already paying high rates, even one minor conviction can mean a substantial annual cost increase.

You have three options when you receive a traffic ticket in Ontario: pay the fine (which is a deemed conviction), request a meeting with a justice of the peace to negotiate a reduced fine, or dispute the ticket in court. For novice drivers where even minor convictions have outsized consequences, it is often worth disputing or negotiating the ticket rather than simply paying it.