Not long after I started driving in BC, something unexpected happened. I drove past a sign I’d never seen before — and within seconds, a police officer waiting on the other side was waving me over. This is the story of that ticket, the dispute I filed, and everything I’ve since learned about how BC’s ticket and penalty-point system actually works.
A note up front: I’m not a lawyer. This is my own experience plus publicly available BC information, meant to help other newcomers avoid the same mistake. Always confirm the details on your own ticket and with official sources.
1. What Happened — The Mistake
As I approached an intersection, I noticed an unfamiliar sign on the right sidewalk: a black background with a white right-arrow, and a sub-sign below that read “EXCEPT BUSES AND CYCLISTS” with specific hours listed.
I didn’t fully register what it meant — there was a straight-through lane visible, so I drove straight. That’s when the officer stepped out.
🚨 What this sign actually means:
During peak hours (typically Mon–Fri, 7–9 AM and 4–6 PM), all general vehicles must turn right at this point. The straight-through lane is reserved exclusively for buses and cyclists during those times. The word “EXCEPT” does not mean general vehicles are exempt — it means only buses and cyclists are allowed to go straight.
Other BC Signs Newcomers Misread
The “EXCEPT” wording trips up a lot of new drivers, and it’s not the only one. If you’ve just started driving in BC, watch for these:
- The diamond (◇) HOV lane symbol — that lane requires a minimum number of occupants (often 2+ or 3+) during posted hours. Driving alone in it is a ticket.
- “BUSES ONLY” / transit-priority lanes — same logic as my sign: the lane looks open, but it isn’t for you.
- Time-restricted turns — “NO LEFT TURN 3–6 PM” style signs. Legal most of the day, illegal in the window.
- The “EXCEPT ___” family in general — the exception names who is allowed, not who is exempt. If your vehicle isn’t the one named, the restriction applies to you.
The common thread: whenever a sign has a time range or an “EXCEPT” line, slow down and read both parts before you commit.
2. Filing a Dispute — The 2026 Process
I tried explaining myself on the spot but got nowhere, so I filed a formal dispute. In BC, you have 30 days from the date you receive the ticket to either pay it or dispute it. Paying the ticket counts as pleading guilty — so if you intend to fight it, do not pay first.
There are three ways to file a dispute:
| Method | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Online | For tickets with only Motor Vehicle Act charges, you can start the dispute at tickets.gov.bc.ca |
| In person | Book an appointment at an ICBC driver licensing office, or bring the ticket to a Provincial Court registry |
| By mail | Complete a Notice of Dispute form (or follow the instructions on the back of the ticket); must be postmarked within 30 days |
After you file, the Provincial Court Registry mails you a court date — usually several weeks out. My goals going in were simple: reduce the fine and, more importantly, avoid penalty points on my record.
3. My Day in Court — What Happened
When my court date arrived, I explained my situation to the judge: I was a newcomer to BC, this was a sign I had never encountered before, and I had misread it in a split second. I emphasized that I generally follow traffic laws carefully.
The judge listened. The fine was reduced, but not dismissed entirely — the violation stayed on record and the penalty points remained. It was a partial win, and honestly a fair outcome given that I had made the mistake.
If you’re heading to traffic court yourself, a few things I’d tell my past self:
- Bring everything: your ticket, any photos of the sign/intersection, and a short written timeline of what happened.
- Be honest and brief. Judges hear excuses all day; a straight account of the facts lands better than an argument.
- Know what you’re asking for. “Dismissal” and “reduction” are different requests — decide which is realistic before you speak.
- Dress and behave like it matters. It’s a real courtroom.
4. What Are Penalty Points — and What They Actually Cost
In BC, most traffic violations come with a fine and penalty points, and the points are the part that quietly costs you more over time.
Here’s what common violations are worth:
| Violation | Penalty Points |
|---|---|
| No seatbelt | 0 |
| Changing lanes without signalling | 2 |
| Running a red light | 2 |
| Failing to yield to a pedestrian | 2 |
| Disobeying a stop sign | 3 |
| Speeding | 3 |
| Using an electronic device (phone) | 4 |
💡 Important correction to a common myth: penalty points stay on your driving record for 5 years, not 2. (You’ll sometimes see “2 years” repeated online — it’s outdated.)
How points turn into a bill
Once a year, around your birthday, ICBC reviews the previous 12 months of your record. If you accumulated 4 or more penalty points in that window, you get a Driver Penalty Point (DPP) premium on top of your regular insurance:
| Penalty Points (in 12 months) | DPP Premium |
|---|---|
| 0 – 3 | $0 |
| 4 | $214 |
| 5 | $282 |
| 6 | $367 |
| 7 | $508 |
So two speeding tickets in one year (3 + 3 = 6 points) means a $367 premium — on top of the two fines. And serious offences can trigger a separate, much larger Driver Risk Premium. This is exactly why avoiding the points matters more than the fine on the ticket.
5. What I Do Differently Now
After this experience, I read every road sign much more carefully. My specific habits now:
- For signs with a time-range sub-sign, I always check whether the current time falls inside the restricted period.
- For any “EXCEPT ___” sign, I confirm whether my vehicle type is the exception — or the restriction.
- When I see a lane that looks open but oddly empty at rush hour, I assume it’s reserved until I’ve read the sign.
BC traffic rules have a lot in common with Korea, but the sign formats and edge cases can be genuinely different — especially for newcomers. The fine stings, but it’s the penalty points and insurance impact you really want to avoid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I dispute the ticket or just pay it?
If you have a real chance at dismissal or reduction — and especially if points are involved — disputing is worth it. If you clearly committed the offence and the points are minor, some people just pay. Either way, don’t pay if you plan to dispute.
Can disputing make the fine higher?
The judge can uphold the original fine, but in practice the amount set on the ticket is what you’re contesting. The bigger risk is simply losing and paying the original amount plus your time.
Do newcomers get leniency?
There’s no automatic discount for being new, but explaining honestly that you’d never seen the sign — as I did — can factor into the judge’s decision on the fine.
How do I check what’s on my record?
You can order your driver’s abstract free from ICBC through their online portal. It shows tickets and points from the past five years.
What if I can’t attend my court date?
Contact the court registry as early as possible. Missing your date without notice usually means the ticket is upheld by default.
Related posts: How to Exchange Your Korean Driver’s Licence for a BC Licence · 9 BC Driving Rules Korean Drivers Must Know
Sources: ICBC (Driver Penalty Point Premium; Fines & Points), Province of BC (Dispute a Provincial Violation Ticket), People’s Law School BC — “The points system and ICBC.” Fines, premiums, and procedures change; verify current figures with ICBC and your own ticket.