Who gets the demerit points if a mortgaged car without transfer violates traffic rules?
2 Answers
Demerit points should be deducted from the actual user of the vehicle, i.e., the driver. Traffic violation penalties target the driver's non-compliance with traffic regulations, not the vehicle itself. Traffic violation demerit points are assigned when drivers fail to operate their vehicles according to regulations, committing corresponding traffic violations that result in point deductions. Below is an introduction to handling violations for mortgaged vehicles: Standard procedure: For traffic violations committed while driving a purchased mortgaged vehicle, simply follow the standard procedure to pay the fine. The violation can be processed either at the registration location or where the violation occurred, with no relation to the vehicle's mortgaged status. For violations captured by electronic monitoring: Notifications are sent to the contact address or phone number left by the original owner, as the mortgaged vehicle's registration records contain the original owner's information. Therefore, unless the driver is issued a ticket on the spot, the current user of the vehicle may remain completely unaware of the violation.
I was chatting with my neighbor about this, and he mentioned driving a mortgaged car without transferring ownership, which resulted in traffic violations and points deducted. The traffic rules are clear: points are deducted based on who was driving when the violation occurred, not who owns the car. The penalty points go to the driver's license, though the car owner might share some of the fines. If you accidentally speed or run a red light and accumulate too many points within a scoring cycle, your license could be suspended—what a hassle. So, whether borrowing or driving someone else’s car, always drive safely, and it’s best to complete the ownership transfer to avoid disputes. I’ve heard that handling violations for mortgaged cars can be complicated in some places, so checking the rules beforehand saves trouble.
