Additional demerit points will soon come into effect in some states, for a variety of offences, as we approach Christmas. Here’s the full details.
In New South Wales, Western Australia and Australian Capital Territory, additional demerit points will be dished out for a variety of offences that occur between over the Christmas and New Year period.
For NSW, double demerit points will occur to offences including speeding, illegal use of mobile phones and not wearing a seatbelt. These offences carry double the points, however not double the fine.
In WA, the double demerit point scheme runs from Friday December 20 through to Sunday January 4.
For WA, double demerits apply for offences including speeding, drink or drug driving, failing to wear a seatbelt, illegal use of mobile phone and running a red light.
However those in WA caught driving a vehicle fitted with a device designed to evade detection by a speed camera, or driving a vehicle in a manner to evade detection by a speed camera, could be pinged with 14 demerit points during the double demerit point period.
In the ACT, there will also be double demerit points between Friday December 20 through to Wednesday January 1, following the same rules as NSW.
In Queensland however double demerit points work a little differently. Instead putting this in place only during holiday periods, Queensland keeps double demerit points in effect all year round – but that’s only for drivers who commit the same offence twice within a 12 month period.
Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania do not apply double demerits for holiday periods.