Achi news desk-
The Easter long weekend brings lots of chocolates as well as lots of double demerit points.
Double handicaps came into effect at midnight (12am) on Thursday, March 28 in New South Wales, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, and will remain in place until 11:59pm on Monday, April 1.
Although only three states and territories enforce double demerits, penalties for motorists caught breaking road rules during the period apply to whichever jurisdiction they are licensed in.
For example, if you are traveling through New South Wales on a Victorian license and you are fined, the end point penalty will be based on Victoria’s road laws.
On the other hand, if you drive in Victoria (which does not enforce double demerits) on a New South Wales license and get a fine, double demerits apply.
What offenses do double demerits apply to?
New South Wales: In Australia’s most populous state, double demerits are issued if motorists are caught speeding, using their mobile phones illegally, not wearing seat belts in a car, or riding a motorbike without a helmet.
Western Australia: Motorists charged with speeding, drink driving or driving under the influence of drugs, failing to wear a seat belt or child restraint, unlawful use of a mobile phone while driving, driving a vehicle with a radar detector or driving in an evasive manner detected by a speed camera face double demerit penalties.
Australian Capital Territory: As in NSW, motorists from the nation’s capital are hit with double demerit points penalties for being caught speeding, using their mobile phones illegally, not wearing seat belts in a car or riding motorcycle without a helmet.
Queensland: Although there are no holiday-specific double demerit periods in Queensland, the Sunshine State imposes stronger penalties on certain driving offenses every day of the year.
These include driving more than 20km/h over the speed limit, any mobile phone offences, driver’s seat belt offences, motorcycle helmet offences, and failing to ensure that passengers under 16 have prevent them appropriately.
The double demerits are only applied to motorists who commit the same type of offense within 12 months of their first offence, with the second offense attracting twice as many points.
Elsewhere: Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have no double demerit points during holiday periods or at any time during the year.
