If you hold a G1, G2, M1 or M2 licence, a first distracted driving conviction in Ontario is very different from what a fully licensed driver faces. You pay the same fine — $615 if you settle out of court — but as a novice driver you get no demerit points. Instead, you face a 30-day licence suspension for that first conviction, ten times the three-day suspension a fully licensed driver gets.

I'm Jon Cohen, Partner at NextLaw, a distracted driving ticket law firm in Ontario. Here's what's different for new drivers, and why it's a bigger deal than it looks.

What is the distracted driving penalty for new drivers in Ontario?


If you hold a G1, G2, M1 or M2 licence, you pay the same fine as a fully licensed driver — $615 if you settle out of court. But here's the key difference: as a novice driver, you don't get demerit points.

Instead, you face a licence suspension — and it's not the three days a fully licensed driver gets. For a new driver, a first distracted driving conviction means a 30-day licence suspension. Same fine, no points, but a suspension ten times longer.

Why is a 30-day suspension such a big deal for a new driver?


Thirty days without a licence is a serious disruption when you're just getting started — getting to school, getting to work, just getting around.

And it doesn't stop there. A conviction this early can push your insurance up for years, and new drivers already pay some of the highest rates in the province. So a single ticket can follow you well beyond that first month off the road. The financial side depends on your insurer, but for a novice driver the stakes are stacked higher from the start.

What should a new driver do about a distracted driving ticket?


Because the stakes are so much higher for a new driver — a 30-day suspension versus three days — just paying the ticket is a bigger mistake than most people realize.

Paying it is the same as pleading guilty, and it locks in that suspension and the insurance hit. This is exactly the kind of first ticket that's worth looking at closely before you decide anything. Every case is different, but for a novice driver, understanding your options first can protect a lot more than it costs.

Frequently asked questions


What is the distracted driving suspension for a G1 or G2 driver in Ontario?


A first distracted driving conviction for a novice (G1, G2, M1, M2) driver carries a 30-day licence suspension, compared with three days for a fully licensed driver.

Do new drivers get demerit points for distracted driving?


No. Novice drivers receive no demerit points for distracted driving. Instead, they face a licence suspension — 30 days for a first conviction.

Is the fine different for new drivers?


No. Novice drivers pay the same fine as fully licensed drivers — $615 if settled out of court, up to $1,000 if summonsed or convicted at trial.

Should a new driver just pay a distracted driving ticket?


Paying is the same as pleading guilty and locks in the 30-day suspension and insurance impact, so it's usually worth understanding your options first.

This article is general information about Ontario law and is not legal advice. Services provided by a licensed lawyer and licensed paralegals at NextLaw. Every case is different; past results do not guarantee future outcomes. https://www.nextlaw.ca/?p=35572