Police will be cracking down on motorists in select states and territories during the Australia Day holiday period. Double demerits will be meted out for all speeding, seatbelt and mobile phone offenses. Here are the details.
The demerit point system was implemented in a bid to make drivers obey road rules during busy traffic periods. It occurs on select public holidays and holiday periods, with Christmas being the most notable.
As the name of the scheme implies, demerit points are doubled during this period for the offences of speeding, illegal use of mobile phones, not wearing a seatbelt and riding without a motorcycle helmet.
Currently, the double demerit system is practiced in Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Here’s what each state is doing over the Australia Day period, according to official police statements:
NSW
“Double demerits are now in force for all speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences. Double demerit point period: Midnight Wednesday 24 January to midnight Sunday 28 January (or Thursday 25-Sunday 28 January inclusive)”
ACT
“The Australia Day holiday weekend is a Double Demerit Point period in the ACT. If you commit speeding, seatbelt/helmet, mobile phone and certain other offences during the period Wednesday, 24 January until Sunday, 28 January 2017 inclusive, Double Demerit Points will apply. If you commit other traffic offences which have demerit points, one extra demerit point will be added.”
Queensland:
“In Queensland, double demerit points are applied to persons who repeatedly commit specific offences that increase the road safety risk to the person themselves or other road users.” The same system will be in effect during the Australia Day holiday period.
Western Australia:
“During the Australia Day long weekend period double demerit points will apply between 12.01am on Thursday 25 January 2018 until 11.59pm on Sunday 28 January 2018.”
“During this period double demerit points will apply to the following offences:
- Speeding;
- Seatbelt offences pertaining to drivers;
- Driving with a BAC of or above 0.05;
- Presence of prescribed illicit drugs, or fail to supply oral sample or blood;
- Contravene a red traffic control signal;
- Contravene a red traffic control arrow; and
- The illegal use of mobile phones.”
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