A license to drive in Canada comes with a great deal responsibility that some people take for granted. Because of this, Canada has a list of traffic criminal offences that can be found in the Canadian Criminal Code. There are also a few infractions listed in the Driver's Handbook.
A demerit point system is used for minor traffic violations. Every time one of these are broken and a driver is caught, they are given demerit points. Depending on the severity of the offence, a certain amount of points are earned. These also can come with other penalties, like a ticket.
Depending on whether a person is a young driver who is still learning or an experienced person with a full class licence, the amount of points allowed varies. Those still learning have very little leeway, with only a total of nine points allowed before being suspended. Those with their completed license have fifteen. Earn too many points, and the license will be taken away.
There are several criminal offences that apply to motor vehicles. The first is Dangerous Driving. If found guilty, it can lead to up to five years in jail. If while driving dangerously, someone is hurt, the penalty becomes ten years. And, if someone is killed, it can be up to fourteen years, and may also bring other charges.
Fleeing from the police is also an offence, and a person can receive five years imprisonment for it. And of course fleeing and causing someone harm increases the penalty. Criminal negligence, either causing harm or death, can put a motorist in prison. If someone is hurt, it can be for fourteen years, but if someone is killed, a life sentence can be handed out.
Street racing is illegal as well, and is considered to be a form of dangerous driving. Racers can get upwards of five years, and the prison time increases if someone is hurt or killed in the process. Causing bodily harm while racing can have a prison sentence of up to fourteen years, and killing someone increases that time to life. Not stopping at the scene of an accident that the driver was involved in is also considered a crime. It can put them in jail for up to five years. As with the others, if someone comes to harm or dies, the punishment is more severe.
Finally, driving while drunk or on drugs are punishable actions. If it's proven that a person is impaired, the first time they're caught is a fine, the second time is a month in jail and the next time is five months. Longer prison times are possible with subsequent offences. Naturally, hurting or killing someone while impaired driving puts the driver in prison for much longer. And, refusing to submit to breath or blood tests results in potential jail time as well, especially if someone was harmed or killed. Causing harm yields a ten year sentence, and life is handed out if someone dies.
Following the rules of the road should allow a person to avoid any encounters with law enforcement. The laws are in place to protect all motorists and pedestrians, as well as punish those who choose not to follow them. If more drivers followed the laws, there could be fewer accidents on the road.
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Orignal From: Canadian Traffic Criminal Offences That Drivers Should Know
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