When and where double demerits kick in this Anzac Day long weekend
Double demerits are coming back into full force as drivers are warned to drive safely with Anzac Day around the corner, right after the Easter weekend.
On the Road
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Drivers are being warned to stay vigilant on the roads as double demerits come back into force this weekend.
Common offences such as incorrect use of seatbelts, speeding, and illegally using mobile phones all lead to demerit points being added to driver’s records, and if the demerit point limit is reached, licenses can be suspended.
Fines are also often attached to these offences, but rules vary between states.
New South Wales and the ACT
NSW drivers will face double demerits from Thursday, April 24, to Sunday, April 27.
The ACT is more lenient for comparatively minor offences, such as failing to keep left, which will only result in a single extra point being applied.
Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory
Victoria, SA, Tasmania and the NT don’t use double demerits to enforce road safety, meaning penalties for driving offences across the Anzac Day period on these states will cause the same penalties as any other time of the year.
However, Victoria Police have committed to a major road safety operation since April 17, which will conclude on Sunday, April 27.
Queensland
The Sunshine State has a special set of rules for applying double demerits.
Drivers who commit the same offence within a 12 month period in Queensland will face double demerits, no matter the time of year.
No further demerits will apply during the Anzac long weekend.
Western Australia
Those in WA will only be punished with double demerits on Anzac Day.
However, committing two particular offences on April 25 could lead to a suspension of the driver’s license as a whopping 14 points will be docked.
The offences are: “drive a motor vehicle fitted with a device designed to evade detection by a speed camera” and “drive a motor vehicle in a manner to evade detection by a speed camera”.
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Originally published as When and where double demerits kick in this Anzac Day long weekend
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