How Long Does a Speeding Ticket Stay on Your Record in BC?
If you’ve received a speeding ticket in British Columbia, you might be wondering how long it will affect your driving record. The answer is important, as the presence of a ticket on your record can influence everything from insurance premiums to your ability to keep your licence.
In BC, a speeding ticket will remain on your driving record for forever. But what people most commonly think about when they refer to their record is in fact their abstract. This is the most recent five years of history of your driving privileges.
A ticket will remain on your abstract for five years from the date of the offence. This means that the ticket—and the associated penalty points—will be visible to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) and law enforcement for that period. During these five years, the ticket can impact your driving privileges and insurance costs.
How Speeding Tickets Affect Your Insurance and Driving Privileges
The penalty points from a speeding ticket are especially significant. Each regular speeding ticket adds three points to your record. And while excessive speeding (over 40 km/h above the limit) has the same number of points, it is also a high risk offence and can trigger worse consequences notwithstanding the same number of points. ICBC monitors these points over a rolling 12-month period. If you accumulate too many points, you may face additional fines, higher insurance premiums, or even a driving prohibition.
While the points themselves are considered for penalties over a 12 to 24 month period, the record of the ticket itself remains on the abstract for five years. This means that, even after the points are no longer counted towards new penalties, the ticket can still be seen on your driving abstract. Insurance companies may also consider your entire five-year driving history when determining your premiums.
Can You Remove a Speeding Ticket From Your Record?
It’s also important to note that paying a speeding ticket does not remove it from your record. Once you are convicted—either by paying the fine or being found guilty in court—the ticket and points are added to your driving record. The only way to avoid this is to successfully dispute the ticket and have it dismissed.
If you have concerns about how a speeding ticket will affect your driving record or insurance, or if you want to dispute a recent ticket, it’s wise to seek legal advice. Contact Acumen Law Corporation or lawyer Kyla Lee for guidance on your options and to help protect your driving record in British Columbia.
