The Driver Improvement Program

Receiving a Warning Notice is typically the first stage in the Driver Improvement Program. Driving violations show a disregard for public safety, and the warning notice is to let you know that your driving record is being monitored. Additional driving offences may result in more severe or escalating interventions, such as a driving prohibition, which is when you are not allowed to drive for a determined amount of time.

When you are placed on probation, you may continue driving, but your driving record will remain under close watch. If you receive any further violations, even after the probation ends, you may be subject to a driving prohibition.

When you receive this letter, it means that we intend to prohibit you from driving due to your history of unsafe driving. You must respond to this Notice within 21 days in one of two ways:
• Option 1: Begin the driving prohibition immediately by returning the signed Notice of Intent to Prohibit; or
• Option 2: Request a review of the decision. See the Requesting a Review section below for information about this process and how much it costs.

Option 1 - Acknowledge the Intent to Prohibit from Driving:
You must sign and date the Notice. Your driving prohibition will begin on the day you sign and date the form and will continue for the length of time stated in the letter.
You must return (surrender) your driver’s licence to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). You may mail the Notice and your driver’s licence to ICBC or you may submit the Notice and your driver’s licence to an ICBC driver licensing office in person.
If you do not have a driver’s licence, you are still required to sign, date, and submit the Notice by mail or in person to ICBC.
If you require additional identification once you return your licence, you may visit an ICBC Driving Licensing Office, as you may be eligible for either a free Photo BC Services card or a Non-Photo BC Services Card. The BC Services Card gives you a piece of identification, access to provincially insured health services, and access to government services online.
Any driver’s licence issued to you will be cancelled and you will not receive any refund for the licence fees. If you do not return your licence, you are still not allowed to drive.

Option 2 - Request a Review of the Decision to Prohibit from Driving:
If you believe your prohibition should be cancelled or reduced, you may submit a request for a review of the decision within 21 days of the date on your Notice. Please read the Requesting a Review section below and  Application for Review (MV2323) document for more information on this process.

If you selected Option 1 and acknowledged the prohibition, you may still choose to request a review of the decision to prohibit, but you cannot drive unless you are otherwise notified in writing.
If you selected Option 2 and requested a review of the prohibition within 21 days of the date on your Notice, you may drive while you wait for a decision to be made.
If you do not choose either option, you will be mailed a Notice of Prohibition.

At this stage, your driving privileges are taken away and you must return your driver’s licence immediately.

You must sign and date the Notice. Your driving prohibition will begin on the day you sign and date the form and will continue for the length of time stated in the letter.

You must return (surrender) your driver's licence to ICBC. You may mail the signed Notice and your driver’s licence to ICBC, or you may submit the signed Notice and return your driver’s licence in person to an ICBC Driving Licensing Office. Any driver’s licence issued to you will be cancelled, and you will not receive any refund for the licence fees. If you do not return your licence, you are still not allowed to drive. If you do not have a driver’s licence, you are still required to sign, date, and submit the Notice to ICBC.
If you require additional identification once you return your licence, you may visit an ICBC Driving Licensing Office, as you may be eligible for either a free Photo BC Services card or a Non-Photo BC Services Card. The BC Services Card gives you a piece of identification, access to provincially insured health services, and access to government services online.
If you do not sign, date and return the Notice to ICBC, the outstanding prohibition will be reflected on your driving record and may be served to you by the police.
If you drive a vehicle after your prohibition has started (after you have signed, dated and returned the Notice or after you have been served with the Notice by police), you may be faced with an immediate vehicle impoundment, and a charge of Driving While Prohibited. A Driving While Prohibited conviction has a minimum $500 fine, possible imprisonment, and an automatic 12-month driving prohibition.

When your prohibition is over, before you can begin to drive again, you will need to go to an ICBC Driving Licensing Office to apply for a new driver’s licence. This is called licence reinstatement. There is a $250 fee to
reinstate your licence. During your visit to an ICBC Driving Licensing Office, you are required to present both primary and secondary identification. For a list of acceptable identification, please visit ICBC's website at www.icbc.com or phone ICBC toll free at 1-800-663-3051 or at 250-978-8300 (in Victoria).
You must also pay any additional licensing fees and any other outstanding fees that you owe to the Province of British Columbia or the Court. You will be told if there are any other requirements not related to the driving prohibition when you apply for your new driver’s licence.
Novice drivers cannot exit the Graduated Licensing Program until they have been prohibition-free for 24 consecutive months.

If you have received a Notice of Intent to Prohibit from Driving or a Notice of Prohibition, you have an opportunity to request a review of the decision. The review process allows you to provide written reasons why the prohibition should be cancelled or reduced to a shorter term. There is a $100 fee to request a review.

To submit a request, you must:
• Complete the enclosed Application for Review (MV2323) form;
• Write a letter that explains why your driving prohibition should be cancelled or reduced; and
• Pay the $100 non-refundable fee and submit your request to ICBC.
You may:
o Mail the completed form, your written letter, and the $100 application fee to ICBC. Only certified cheques or money orders made payable to the Ministry of Finance are accepted by mail; or
o Visit an ICBC Driving Licensing Office to submit the completed form, your written letter, and to pay the
$100 application fee in person. ICBC Driving Licensing Offices accept cash, certified cheques, debit cards and credit cards in person.

Your submission must contain all the information you want to be considered, including any relevant evidence that supports your case. If you decide it is necessary to make another submission, another $100 fee must be paid. If the fee has not been paid in full, there will be no response to your request for review.

If you receive a response and disagree with the final decision, you have 30 days from the start of the prohibition to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of British Columbia, under Section 94 of the Motor Vehicle Act. You are responsible for the cost of making an appeal to the Court.

Your Notice is based on the offences on your driving record as of the date it was printed. Any more offences added to your driving record after that date may result in your driving record being reviewed again, with the possibility of further interventions.

When your prohibition term is over you cannot drive until your licence is reinstated by ICBC. If you want to apply to reinstate your licence after a prohibition, you must:

• Apply for one at an ICBC driver licensing office
• Pay any licensing and reinstatement fees
• Pay any money owing to the province or ICBC
• Meet any other licensing requirements

Drivers in the Graduated Licensing Program must be prohibition-free for 24 consecutive months before they can apply for their Class 5 licence.

Written Submission - $100 (paid to RoadSafetyBC)

Licence reinstatement fee - $250 (paid to ICBC)

Short-term driver's licence fee - $31 (paid to ICBC)

Adjudicators follow the Driver Improvement Program Policies and Guidelines [PDF, 352KB] when deciding about interventions.