The Government of British Columbia is implementing major changes in the way it punishes high-risk drivers.

B.C.’s Attorney General David Eby announced on Tuesday that the government is increasing fines financially for excessive speeding, impaired driving and distracted driving. These new penalties go into effect on Thursday, November 1st, 2018.

“Reckless drivers put others at risk, and they’re contributing to the rise in crashes we’re seeing on our roads,” said Eby in a press release. “To help make our roads safer and hold people accountable, we’re bringing in higher penalties for drivers who engage in dangerous behaviour behind the wheel.”

Fines will increase to 20% for ICBC’s Driver Risk Premium (DRP) and the Driver Penalty Point (DPP).

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The Driver Risk Premium (DRP)

Each year just prior to your assessment date (which is usually your date of birth) ICBC reviews your driving record for offences in the previous three years.

You receive only one DRP invoice per year, but each driving offence may impact DRP billings for more than one year, depending on the rest of your driving record within a three-year period.

The Driver Risk Premium (DRP), like Driver Penalty Points (DPP), is separate from Autoplan insurance premiums. They are billed even if you don’t own or insure a vehicle.

The Driver Penalty Point DPP

Driver Penalty Points are collected on your driving record through traffic offences. Each offence carries a different number of points. Each year ICBC looks at the total number of points you received during a 12-month period we call your “assessment period.” Your assessment period may include driving offences during an earlier period which have only recently been recorded on your driving record.

If you collect more than three points on your driving record during the assessment period, you’ll pay a Driver Penalty Point (DPP) premium.

The DRP and DPP are insurance penalties that drivers have to pay ICBC, on top of the fine they must pay for the original infraction.

New High-Risk Drivers Fines

Under the current system, the Driver Penalty Point premium currently ranges from $175 for four points to $24,000 for 50 or more points. Beginning November 1st, these fines go up to $210 for four points and $28,800 for 50 or more points.

Drivers who don’t pay their DRP or DPP penalty will be restricted from:

Getting a new drivers license

Buying vehicle insurance through ICBC

They’ll also be charged 19.6% in interest after 60 days without payment.

Motorists can also expect these strict penalties to increase by another 20% next fall.