These are the double demerit states this long weekend
Are you driving this long weekend? You better show your best side! Because in some states of Australia, hard double minus point penalties apply for the duration of the long weekend.
We’ll go through the states (and territories) with and states (and territories) without double fault points, along with some of the fines you can get during the process if you get stung on a double fault weekend – there are a lot of 14- Point penalty available for a state.
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This is how double demerits work in Australia:
Victoria: There are no double demerits in Victoria this long weekend.
New South Wales: New South Wales has double penalty points that apply this long weekend. They come into effect at 00:00 on the first day of the bank holiday long weekend and end at 24:00 on the last day of the bank holiday weekend.
Speeding, illegal cell phone use, not wearing a seat belt and riding without a motorcycle helmet are all double penalties in New South Wales.
For example, illegal use of a mobile phone while driving during double demerits in New South Wales is rewarded with five demerits.
Western Australia: Western Australia has double demerits this long weekend. They come into effect at 00:00 on the first day of the bank holiday long weekend and end at 24:00 on the last day of the bank holiday weekend.
Double penalties apply in Western Australia for speeding, drunk or drug driving, failure to wear a seat belt or child restraint system, illegal use of a mobile phone while driving, operating a vehicle equipped with a speed camera detector and driving in a manner that would impair detection by a speed camera .
For example, if you decide to use a radar detector or laser jammer during a double demerit period in Western Australia, you will repel 14 points in one hit!
Queensland: Queensland doesn’t have a long weekend policy on double demerits…it actually enforces double demerits year-round for certain offenses. The groups of offenses are speeding of more than 20 km/h, mobile phone offences, seat belt offenses and motorcycle helmet offences.
However, they function somewhat differently than other states. In Queensland, a driver can be fined on a long weekend (or anytime during the year) and only pay the regular fine and receive the regular penalty points.
However, if the driver commits the same type of offense within 12 months of the first offense, his second offense will incur double penalties.
For example, if you commit a cellphone offense, the first offense will earn you four minus points. Commit the same type of offense within 12 months and the second offense will incur eight demerits, meaning that you have accrued a total of 12 demerits over 12 months.
Tasmania: Tasmania does not have double demerits during the holiday periods or at any time during the year.
Australian Capital Territory: The Australian Capital Territory has the same double penalty rules as New South Wales for the duration of the long weekend.
Northern Territory: Northern Territory has no double penalties during holiday periods or at any time during the year.
South Australia: South Australia does not have double fault points during the holiday periods or at any time during the year.
What happens when you travel interstate:
Well, one thing to keep in mind is that if you are traveling interstate, the amount of the fine and total penalties from your home state will apply interstate. So, for example, if you are traveling from New South Wales to Victoria during a double penal period and receive a speeding penalty in Victoria, you will deduct double penalties.
Conversely, if you travel from Victoria to New South Wales during a double penalty period, you will receive a no double penalty fine because your home state does not have a double penalty rule.
