Being ticketed and fined for driving while using a cellphone is one thing, but being punished twice for the same offence is too much for one Montreal motorist.
Steve Abihsira is seeking leave to launch a class action lawsuit against the Automobile Insurance Board (SAAQ) because of the premium he was charged to renew his drivers licence.
Abihsira says he paid the fine for the cellphone ticket he received last July but feels the extra charge he was forced to pay to renew his licence because of the four demerit points he had accumulated was akin to being punished twice for the same offence.
The Journal de Montreal says Abihsira's government insurance premium jumped from $55 to $124.
The class action seeks reimbursement of the extra charge and unspecified damages.
In 2016 the government received $65 million in demerit point charges from more than 1.3 million motorists.