| When Canadians travel in their vehicles throughout | | | | for traffic violations received in the United States. |
| the United States, they have to be aware of | | | | For instance, in Ontario: |
| what happens if they receive a traffic violation | | | | "Section 40 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act allows |
| ticket. Many people think that if they receive a | | | | the Minister of Transportation to enter into a |
| traffic ticket, it will not affect their driving record | | | | reciprocal agreement with the government of any |
| in Canada. If you are cited for a traffic violation in | | | | state of the United States providing for the |
| the US, there will be consequences in Canada. | | | | sanctioning by the licensing jurisdiction of drivers |
| Canadian drivers use to drive throughout the US | | | | from that jurisdiction who commit offences in the |
| and not worry about receiving a traffic ticket. If | | | | other jurisdiction." |
| they did, they would just ignore it because there | | | | If, for example, a driver from Ontario receives a |
| were not any consequences. Now, US State | | | | ticket in a state where points would normally be |
| Governments and Provincial Governments share | | | | assessed in Ontario and that state has an |
| information about drivers and their traffic | | | | agreement signed with the Province of Ontario, |
| violations when there is a reciprocal agreement | | | | points will be assessed against the Ontario license. |
| between the Province, Territory, and State. | | | | Most states have such agreements with most |
| The agreement among Provinces and Territories | | | | Canadian provinces |
| known as 'The Canadian Driver License Compact' | | | | In Quebec, the SAAQ states "that an equivalent |
| was put into operation in 1990. All provinces | | | | traffic offense committed in another province or |
| participating in the agreement agreed to exchange | | | | in an American state with which Québec |
| traffic offence information. Each province and | | | | has a reciprocal agreement results in demerit |
| territory agreed that traffic violations committed | | | | points as if the offence occurred in |
| by a driver would result in demerit points given to | | | | Québec." Quebec has reciprocal |
| the driver's license of the driver's home province. | | | | agreements with such states as New York and |
| Each province and territory agreed to transfer | | | | Maine. |
| the driver's license information if that driver was | | | | Demerit points placed on a driver's record stay |
| driving in another province or territory. Over the | | | | there for two years after the date of conviction. |
| years, articles have been attached to the | | | | The more demerit points that you have, the |
| Canadian Driver License Compact. One important | | | | higher you insurance premiums will increase. There |
| article as it relates to the US states: | | | | is no notice sent out when demerit points are |
| "Appendix 2: If a driver of a motor vehicle is | | | | taken off a person's driver's record. |
| convicted, pursuant to Section 249 (1) of the | | | | Driving through the United States is a beautiful |
| Canadian Criminal Code, that information is shared | | | | and fun experience. For Canadians, it is important |
| with the other Provinces, Territories and specific | | | | for drivers to obey all traffic laws to avoid |
| U.S. State" | | | | demerit points from being applied to their driver's |
| Many states have agreements with Canadian | | | | license. |
| provinces regarding the transfer of demerit points | | | | |