Going for a drive this long weekend? You better have your best behavior! Because some states in Australia impose a harsh double point penalty for the duration of the long weekend.
We’ll run through states (and territories) that do and states (and territories) that don’t have two merit points deducted, along with some penalties you may incur in the process if you get penalized on a double-deducted weekend – there’s a whopping 14-point penalty available for a state.
| State (or territory) | Double minus? |
|---|---|
| Victoria | ARE NOT |
| New South Wales | CORRECT |
| Western Australia | CORRECT |
| Queensland | YES and NO (explained below) |
| tasmania | ARE NOT |
| Australian Capital Territory | CORRECT |
| Northern Territory | ARE NOT |
| South Australia | ARE NOT |
How the two minuses work in Australia:
Victoria: There are no double points deductions in Victoria this long weekend.
New South Wales: New South Wales has double deductions in place this long weekend. They go into effect at 12 a.m. on the first day of the long holiday weekend and end at midnight on the last day of the holiday weekend.
Two points deductions in New South Wales apply to speeding, unauthorized mobile phone use, not wearing a seat belt and riding a motorcycle without a helmet.
Illegal mobile phone use while driving during a double fine in New South Wales will result in a five point deduction as an example.
Western Australia: Western Australia has double the number of deductions applied this long weekend. They go into effect at 12 a.m. on the first day of the long holiday weekend and end at midnight on the last day of the holiday weekend.
Two points deductions in Western Australia apply to speeding, drinking or drug use, not wearing a seat belt or child safety seat, unauthorized use of a mobile phone while driving. drive, drive with radar detection, and drive in a way to avoid detection. high speed camcorder.
For example, if you decide to use a radar detector or laser jammer during the double deduction in Western Australia, you will get 14 points in one hit!
Queensland: Queensland doesn’t have a policy of double demerit points over long weekends…it actually enforces double demerits for certain offenses ALL year round. The groups of violations are speeding over 20km/h, mobile phone violations, seat belt violations and motorbike helmet violations.
However, they work a little differently than other states. In Queensland, motorists can be fined during the long weekend (or any time of year) and only have to pay the usual fine and have their points deducted regularly.
However, if a driver commits the same offense within a 12-month period from the first, their second offense will result in double the number of license points being deducted.
For example, if you commit a cell phone violation, you will be charged four points for the first violation. Committing the same offense within a 12-month period and a second offense will result in an eight-point deduction meaning you will accrue a total of 12 deductions over a 12-month period.
Tasmania: There is no double point deduction in Tasmania during public holidays or any other time of the year.
Australian Capital Territory: The Australian Capital Territory has twice as bad rules as New South Wales for the duration of the long holiday weekend.
Northern Territory: The Northern Territory has no two minuses during the holiday period or at any other time of the year.
South Australia: South Australia does not have double deductions during public holidays or at any time of the year.
What happens if you travel interstate:
Now, one thing you need to keep in mind is that if you are traveling interstate, the fines and points deducted from your home state will apply interstate. So, for example, if you were traveling from New South Wales to Victoria during the time of your double license points deduction and you were charged for speeding in Victoria, you would be penalized with double the points. drive.
Conversely, if you travel from Victoria to New South Wales during the double credit deduction, you will be penalized without the two point deduction because your home state does not have a two point deduction.
