SENSE - The BC Photo Radar Program: Penalty Points

Penalty Points

IMPORTANT NOTICE: THESE ARE SUGGESTIONS ONLY AND NOT LEGAL OPINION - IF YOU REQUIRE LEGAL ADVICE, PLEASE CONSULT A LAWYER. SENSE IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT SOCIETY AND DOES NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY WHATSOEVER.

Penalty Points	Old Premium	Premium (June 1/98)	'97 BC Drivers
0	$0	$0	2,329,809
1	$0	$0	0
2	$0	$0	30,665
3	$0	$0	195,382
4	$160	$176	914
5	$210	$230	7,766
6	$270	$300	34,009
7	$345	$415	456
8	$435	$520	2,406
9	$535	$640	7,145
10	$645	$905	726
11	$770	$1,080	757
12	$900	$1,260	1,763
13	$1,050	$1,680	145
14	$1,200	$1,920	256
15	$1,350	$2,160	452
16	$1,550	$2,480	61
17	$1,750	$2,800	79
18	$1,950	$3,120	11
19	$2,150	$3,440	21
20	$2,350	$3,760	50
21	$2,600	$4,160	37
22	$2,850	$4,560	2
23	$3,100	$4,960	11
24	$3,350	$5,360	10
25	$3,600	$5,760	2
26	$3,900	$5,240	5
27	$4,200	$6,720	6
28	$4,500	$7,200	2
29	$4,800	$7,680	4
30	$5,100	$8,160	2
31	$5,450	$8,720	0
32	$5,800	$9,280	3
33	$6,150	$9,840	1
34	$6,550	$11,480	0
35	$6,950	$11,120	1
36	$7,350	$11,760	0
37	$7,750	$12,400	0
38	$8,150	$13,040	0
39	$8,550	$13,680	0
40	$9,100	$14,560	1
41	$9,600	$15,360	0
42	$10,100	$16,160	0
43	$10,600	$16,960	0
44	$11,100	$17,760	0
45	$11,600	$18,560	0
46	$12,200	$19,520	0
47	$12,800	$20,480	0
48	$13,400	$21,440	0
49	$14,000	$22,400	0
50	$15,000	$24,000	0
Total			2,612,960

ARE PENALTY POINTS ATTACHED TO PHOTO RADAR OR RED LIGHT TICKETS?

At this time, penalty points attach only if a driver is nominated (and therefore identified). You do not get points for simply fighting a ticket.

WHAT ARE PENALTY POINT PREMIUMS?

In British Columbia, drivers are assessed Penalty Point Premiums for driving offences recorded on their driving records which total four or more points in a year.

Effective June 1, 1998, penalty point premiums have increased in cost from 10% to 60%.

Penalty point premiums are calculated on all offences added to your record during the twelve month period ending five months prior to the day of your birthday. It may also include offences committed during an earlier period which have now been added to your record. Points are used only once to calculate point premiums.

Convictions under certain Motor Vehicle Act, Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, and Criminal Code sections will also get you penalty points. Division 28 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations specifies the number of points assigned to each offence. Most offences get 2 or 3 points, some very serious/criminal offences get 6 or 10 points. All speeding offences are currently 3 points -- only photo radar tickets which are against a "nominated driver" get points, tickets against owners do not currently get points

The table below shows the marginal cost of each speeding ticket, including points. The marginal cost is the cost incurred by moving up one step. For example, if you had one ticket it would cost you $115 -- but the next ticket would effectively cost you $415 -- this is because at one ticket, you would not pay any penalty points, however, at two tickets you now must pay the second ticket ($115) plus $300 in penalty point premiums.

Speeding Tickets	Total Fines	Penalty Points	Point Premium	Total Paid	Marginal Cost
0	$0	0	$0	$0	-
1	$115	3	$0	$115	$115
2	$230	6	$300	$530	$415
3	$345	9	$640	$985	$455
4	$460	12	$1,260	$1,720	$735
5	$575	15	$2,160	$2,735	$1,015
6	$690	18	$3,120	$3,810	$975

TIP: Drivers who accrue a second offence in their penalty-point year could possibly delay the recording of the second offence by disputing the offence into the next period -- thus avoiding penalty points premiums. This may be a useful strategy for those who rarely get tickets, have a bad year, or do not expect a ticket in the following year.

SENSE is informed that your penalty point bill will be reduced/refunded by 1/12 for each month that your driver's licence is surrendered. If you are living in another province and lawfully hold a licence there, this time will qualify. Contact ICBC's Customer Service at 661-2100 or 1-800-663-1466 for additional information.

SENSE believes that assessment of penalty point premiums should be based upon prior at-fault accidents. Drivers with no accidents would pay nothing, but drivers with many accidents would pay much more.

Number of active BC drivers	2,612,960
Number of active BC drivers with 1+ points	283,151 (10.83%)
Number of active BC drivers with 4+ points (penalty point paying drivers)	57,104 (2.19%)
1995 ICBC revenue from penalty point premiums	$29,200,000

Tickets issued annually (approximate, excluding photo radar): 600,000.
Actual annual penalty point revenue (approximate): $30 million.
Average ICBC penalty point revenue per ticket issued: $50.

Rev: 1999.07.27