Legal Glossary
Traffic tickets are filled with bureaucratic acronyms and legal jargon. Here is a plain-English translation of the terms you will encounter.
Administrative Licence Suspension (ALS)
An immediate, roadside suspension of your driver's licence issued by police, typically for impaired driving or stunt driving, before any court conviction.
Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE)
Also known as photo radar or speed cameras. A system that uses cameras to capture the license plates of speeding vehicles and mail a ticket to the registered owner. These tickets do not carry demerit points.
Base Fine
The original statutory penalty amount for an offence before any mandatory surcharges or court fees are applied.
Canadian Driver Licence Compact (CDLC)
An agreement between most Canadian provinces to share driving records. If you receive a ticket in a member province, the conviction and demerit points are transferred back to your home province's driving record.
Conviction
The formal entry on your driving record indicating you are guilty of a traffic offence. This occurs when you pay a ticket, plead guilty, or are found guilty in court.
Demerit Points
A system used by provincial governments to track repeat traffic offenders. You start with zero points and gain them upon conviction. Accumulating too many results in licence suspension.
Driver Penalty Point (DPP) Premium
A financial penalty in British Columbia where ICBC charges drivers a premium on top of their insurance if they accumulate 4 or more penalty points in a 12-month period.
Excessive Speeding
A legal classification in provinces like British Columbia (usually 40+ km/h over) that triggers immediate vehicle impoundment and much higher fines.
Highway Traffic Act (HTA)
The primary provincial legislation governing driving rules, offences, and penalties in provinces like Ontario and Manitoba.
Stunt Driving
A severe traffic offence (commonly in Ontario and Alberta) triggered by extreme speeding (e.g., 40+ or 50+ km/h over the limit). It results in immediate roadside vehicle impoundment and licence suspension.
Total Payable
The final amount you must pay the court, calculated by adding the Base Fine, the Victim Fine Surcharge, and any administrative fees.
Victim Fine Surcharge (VFS)
A mandatory provincial fee added to all traffic ticket base fines. The funds are directed to provincial programs that assist victims of crime.