Minor fines waived for safe drivers under Premier’s election pledge

NSW Labor has described the Coalition’s promise to wipe minor fines for good drivers as the “world’s fastest U-turn”, a day after the government criticised Labor’s plan to reward safe motorists by returning their demerit points.

NSW Labor has described the Coalition’s promise to wipe minor fines for good drivers as the “world’s fastest U-turn”, a day after the government criticised Labor’s plan to reward safe motorists by returning their demerit points.

Labor leader Chris Minns also wouldn’t rule out adopting Premier Dominic Perrottet’s policy alongside his party’s pledge to reimburse drivers a demerit point every 12 months if they didn’t break road rules.

The Coalition’s plan, which would waive fines for minor driving infringements if they have a clean record for the previous three years, was revealed Wednesday.

Mr Minns said he would “potentially” look at adopting the Premier’s plan, in a combo which could see fines waived and demerit points reimbursed for safe drivers.

“We want to make sure their policy is rigorous and that it works,” he said.

“I think the NSW voters … are sick of political leaders jumping up and saying ‘I’m against it because you said it’”.

A day after NSW Treasurer Matt Kean criticised Labor’s policy as “populist politics”, the government wheeled out their plan, with Labor’s shadow roads spokesman John Graham accusing the Perrottet government of the “world’s fastest U-turn”.

“It’s a welcome change of heart though from the government,” Mr Graham said.

“We genuinely believe ours is the better scheme … (our is calling on drivers to) drive safely and if they drive safely, they’ll be rewarded.

“Instead, the government scheme for some drivers is really saying … If you break the law, you’ll be given an incentive … But we’re open to all good ideas.”

Earlier on Wednesday, The Daily Telegraph revealed that if re-elected, Premier Dominic Perrottet will allow drivers with a three-year clean record to escape fines for more than 300 low level offences including low-range speeding, driving in a bus lane, or disobeying a no left or right turn sign.

It means that drivers with a clean record will be able to save hundreds of dollars if they are caught out going slightly over the speed limit, get stuck in a bus lane or forget to give way.

The one-off waiver would save safe drivers $128 for speeding less than 10km over the limit, or $275 for disobeying a left or right turn only sign.

Demerit points associated with the offences will still apply, and drivers will only be eligible to have one fine waived every three years.

The commitment – Mr Perrottet’s first major election pledge of 2023 – is a bid to one-up Labor’s demerit point plan revealed by the Telegraph on Tuesday.

Labor’s policy would let good drivers recoup a demerit point each year but would not have any direct cost of living impact.

The Coalition policy comes up against

Labor’s plan to give drivers one demerit point back a year.

In 2021, 227,500 fines for low level offences were given to motorists with a three-year clean driving record, amounting to more than $39 million.

Other offences for which drivers would be eligible to escape fines include failing to stop at a stop line, not displaying L or P plates, or seatbelt offences where the unrestrained person is a single passenger older than 16.

School zone, heavy vehicle, red light, mobile phone and speeding offences above 10km per hour will not be eligible for the fine waiver given the serious safety risks involved.

The scheme will start on April 3, just over a week after the March 25 election.

It was billed yesterday as a cost of living relief measure which will also make our roads safer.

“For those motorists who have a history of safe driving, this initiative will save them potentially hundreds of dollars if they commit a minor road offence,” Mr Perrottet told the Telegraph.

Metropolitan Roads Minister Natalie Ward said the promise will deliver real hip pocket relief to safe drivers.

“This Liberal and Nationals policy rewards good drivers and provides a real incentive to put safety first, unlike Labor’s policy which focuses on helping serial offenders at risk of losing their licence,” she said.