Newfoundland Novice Driver Penalties: Zero Alcohol and Demerit Points
What happens if a novice driver in Newfoundland and Labrador has any alcohol?
A novice driver (Class 5I or Class 5II) must have 0% blood alcohol. Above 0%, police suspend the licence at the roadside: 2 months the first time, 4 months the second time and 6 months after that. The driver restarts the licence level, completes an Alcohol Education Program, applies to the Registrar and pays the CAD 200 reinstatement fee.
Where these penalties come from
The Motor Registration Division (MRD) explains the penalties on its Graduated Driver Licencing Program page and its Demerit Point System page. The alcohol suspensions are in the Highway Traffic Act (ss. 60.5 and 60.11), the licence rules and fines are in the Highway Traffic Driver Regulations, 1999, and the points rules are in the Demerit Point System Regulations. The fee is in the MRD Fees Policy (updated December 21, 2023). This guide is current as of 2026 and follows the law where an MRD page words a rule differently. Confirm the rules with the Motor Registration Division (gov.nl.ca/motorregistration) before you drive.
Who is a novice driver in Newfoundland and Labrador?
The Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program applies to all new drivers, whatever their age. You are a novice driver at Level I (Class 5I, the learner's licence) and Level II (Class 5II), for any class of licence. At both levels you must have 0% blood alcohol content (BAC). If you are under 22, also read the guide to the zero alcohol rule for drivers under 22.
What happens after a roadside alcohol suspension
- 1
Police suspend the licence at the roadside
For a novice driver, the Highway Traffic Act sets the limit at 0 mg of alcohol in 100 mL of blood. Any result above 0 starts a suspension, and it starts as soon as the officer gives you the notice.
- 2
You get a letter by certified mail
The licence and a copy of the notice go to the Driver Records Section of Motor Registration. The MRD then sends you the suspension details and the reinstatement requirements by certified mail.
- 3
You wait out the full suspension
The MRD cannot return a licence before the suspension is over. Driving while suspended adds 4 months the first time, and 9 months for later offences in a 5 year period.
- 4
You complete an Alcohol Education Program
A novice driver suspended for impaired driving must complete this program. The Registrar may also require an alcohol dependency evaluation or treatment program before reinstatement.
- 5
You apply to the Registrar and pay the fee
Apply to the Registrar for reinstatement and pay the CAD 200 Driver's Licence Reinstatement fee. The licence comes back at the start of the level you held.
Alcohol suspension periods for novice drivers
| Result or occasion | Suspension |
|---|---|
| Above 0 mg in 100 mL of blood, first time | 2 months |
| Above 0 mg, second time | 4 months |
| Above 0 mg, third or later time | 6 months |
| 80 mg or more in 100 mL of blood (Highway Traffic Act s. 60.5(5)) | 90 days from the time of the request (an MRD page gives other dates, so confirm with the MRD) |
Does a suspension reset my graduated licence level?
Yes. Each time a novice driver is suspended, for any reason, the driver restarts the level of licence held. Under the Driver Regulations, a suspended Level I licence is reissued as if Level I starts for the first time, and a suspended Level II licence as if Level II starts for the first time. A Criminal Code impaired driving charge is separate from the roadside suspension, so you can face both. Check what a licence suspension means on a free practice question.
How do demerit points work for a novice driver?
Motor Registration adds demerit points to your record when you are convicted of a driving offence in Newfoundland and Labrador or anywhere else in Canada. You can get a ticket and points without a police stop. Points come off automatically 2 years after the conviction date. A novice driver is suspended at 6 points in one year, while other drivers are suspended at 12 points in 2 years. Points from your novice years stay on your record after the novice stage. Each ticket for breaking a Level I or Level II rule adds 3 points, so 2 such tickets in one year reach the limit.
What your demerit point total means
Can a points reduction course remove demerit points?
Yes, if you have not yet reached 6 points. A completed course removes up to 4 points from your record, and you can use it only once every 5 years. Take it when you get the 3-point notice, and give the Registrar proof that you completed it. You pay the course fee yourself.
Fines and demerit points for breaking a Level I or Level II rule
| Rule broken | Fine | Demerit points |
|---|---|---|
| No qualified accompanying driver (Level I, or Level II between midnight and 5 a.m.) | CAD 65 to CAD 90 | 3 |
| A passenger other than the accompanying driver (Level I) | CAD 65 to CAD 90 | 3 |
| Driving between midnight and 5 a.m. (Level I) | CAD 65 to CAD 90 | 3 |
| No NOVICE DRIVER sign on the rear of the vehicle (Level I) | CAD 65 to CAD 90 | 3 |
Zero alcohol rules for the accompanying driver
- At Level I, your accompanying driver must have held a Class 5 licence (or the equivalent from another jurisdiction) for at least 4 years and sit in the front seat next to you.
- The accompanying driver must have 0% BAC. At Level II, the same 0% rule applies to the accompanying driver you need between midnight and 5 a.m.
- If an officer stops you and suspects that your accompanying driver has alcohol or drugs in the body, the officer may demand a breath sample from that person.
- An accompanying driver above 0 mg of alcohol in 100 mL of blood, or who refuses the sample, is suspended for 7 days.
- At 80 mg or more, a 90-day suspension follows. It starts on the 14th day after the 7-day suspension ends.
- A novice driver or an accompanying driver who breaks a condition of the licence commits an offence.
How do I get my licence back after a suspension?
Wait until the whole suspension is over, then apply to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. You can submit the reinstatement application online with the MRD form. First complete the Alcohol Education Program for an alcohol suspension, or the Responsible Drivers Workshop for a demerit suspension, and any other requirement that the Registrar sets. The reinstatement fee is CAD 200 in the MRD Fees Policy (updated December 21, 2023).
Key takeaways
- A novice driver at Level I or Level II must have 0% blood alcohol. Above 0%, police suspend the licence at the roadside for 2, 4 or 6 months.
- Each suspension, for alcohol or for points, sends you back to the start of your licence level.
- A novice driver gets a written notice at 3 demerit points and a suspension at 6 points in one year. A points reduction course removes up to 4 points, once every 5 years.
- To get the licence back, finish the required program, apply to the Registrar and pay CAD 200.
- Next step: practise these rules on the free Newfoundland and Labrador Class 5I practice test.
Novice driver penalties in Newfoundland and Labrador: common questions
How many demerit points can a novice driver have in NL?
A novice driver in Newfoundland and Labrador is suspended at 6 demerit points in one year. Motor Registration sends a written notice at 3 points. Points come off automatically 2 years after the conviction date, and they go back to 0 after a demerit suspension.
Do tickets from another province count against my NL licence?
Yes. Motor Registration adds demerit points for a conviction in Newfoundland and Labrador or in any other Canadian jurisdiction. The points go on your record automatically, and you can get a ticket and points without a police stop.
Can I drive while I wait for the suspension letter?
No. A roadside suspension starts as soon as the officer gives you the notice. The letter that comes later by certified mail gives the details and the reinstatement requirements. It does not start the suspension.
Can my parent lose their licence if they drink while they supervise me?
Yes. Your accompanying driver must have 0% blood alcohol. Above 0 mg of alcohol in 100 mL of blood, or after a refusal to give a sample, that driver is suspended for 7 days. At 80 mg or more, a 90-day suspension follows.
Can I get my licence back before the suspension ends?
No. Motor Registration cannot return your licence before the suspension is over. When it ends, complete the program or workshop that applies to your suspension, apply to the Registrar and pay the reinstatement fee.
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