(OTTAWA, ON) – Members of the Ottawa Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have noticed that novice drivers in the Ottawa area are being charged with Provincial Offences Act (POA) charges at an increased rate compared to the same period last year.
The OPP compiled statistics from January 1 to August 31, 2024 and January 1 to August 31, 2025. During that time, Ottawa OPP has seen an increase of 81% in novice driver charges. This includes G1, G2, M1 and M2 drivers. In 2024, Ottawa OPP laid 1305 POA charges against novice drivers, compared to 2376 charges laid in the same period in 2025. While the number of speeding charges has increased modestly by 2%, other charges have seen a significant increase. These serious offences, which include Stunt Driving and Distracted Driving, carry increased consequences for novice drivers. Penalties include longer suspensions upon conviction and novice drivers may be required to restart the Graduated Licencing program. This can have a residual effect for all drivers as insurance rates continue to increase.
The OPP reminds motorists that having a driver’s licence is a privilege, not a right. Together, we can make the changes necessary to ensure that Ontario roads are safe for all drivers.