Australia Day long weekend double demerits now in effect

Coinciding with the Australia Day long weekend, there are four days of double demerits in certain jurisdictions.

Double demerits came into effect at 12:01am on Friday, January 24 in New South Wales, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, and will remain in place until 11:59pm on Monday, January 27.

Double demerits apply only to motorists from those three jurisdictions, no matter where they’re driving.

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For example, if you’re travelling through New South Wales on a Victorian licence and are fined, the demerit point penalty will be based on Victoria’s road laws.

On the other hand, if you’re driving in Victoria (which doesn’t enforce double demerits) on a New South Wales licence and receive a fine, double demerits apply.

What offences do double demerits apply to?

New South Wales: In Australia’s most populous state, double demerits are issued if motorists are caught speeding, illegally using their mobile phones, not wearing seatbelts in a car, or riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

Australian Capital Territory: As with NSW, motorists from the nation’s capital are hit with double demerit points penalties for being caught speeding, illegally using their mobile phones, not wearing seatbelts in a car, or riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

The ACT also gives out a single extra demerit point for all other traffic offences.

Western Australia: Double demerit points in Western Australia apply for speeding, drink or drug driving, failing to wear a seatbelt or child restraint, and illegal use of a mobile phone while driving.

Additionally, 14 points can be served for driving a vehicle with a radar detector or driving in a manner to avoid detection by a speed camera.

Queensland: While there are no holiday-specific double demerit periods in Queensland, the Sunshine State applies stronger penalties to certain driving offences every day of the year.

These include driving at more than 20km/h above the speed limit, any mobile phone-related offences, driver seatbelt offences, motorcycle helmet offences, and failure to ensure passengers under 16 are properly restrained.

The double demerits are only applied to motorists who commit the same type of offence within 12 months of their first offence, with the second offence attracting twice as many points.

Everywhere else: Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have no double demerit points during holiday periods or at any point during the year.