Misbehaving motorists to be slapped with new fine hikes on July 1, 2024

Queensland motorists are about to be hit with hefty new penalties, with increases to all traffic fines, with the heftiest coming in above $1850. SEE THE FULL LIST

Misbehaving motorists caught using their phone behind the wheel or not wearing a seatbelt can expect to pay whopping penalties above $1200 as the government hikes the price of fines.

Treasurer Cameron Dick confirmed the value of a penalty unit will climb 4.2 per cent in 2024/25, meaning traffic penalties and other offences punished with a fine will increase on July 1.

SEE THE LIST OF FINES BELOW

This is in line with the latest annual inflation figures and is lower than 7.7 per cent increase last July, and on par with the 4.3 per cent hike the year before that.

From July 1 the value of a penalty unit will increase from $154.80 to $161.30, with the biggest impacts to be felt by those who commit the most expensive offences.

Fines for failing to wear a seat belt, or driving between 30km/h and 40km/h above the speed limit will increase from $1161 to $1210.

Generic picture of a police office issuing an infringement notice to a driver during peak-hour in Brisbane.

The penalty for using a mobile phone behind the wheel — including for e-scooter riders and cyclists — will also increase to $1210.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics the average weekly wage in Queensland is $1844, meaning breaking those rules could set a person back 65 per cent of their pay for the week.

Motorists who fail to stop at a red light can expect to be stung $645, up from $619.

The biggest fine listed – for driving more than 40km/h over the speed limit – jumps from $1780 to a whopping $1852.

Fines and forfeitures was expected to raise $857m in revenue for the state government in 2024/25 according to estimates in the latest budget.

Mr Dick said it was “very important” the value of fines and penalties was not “diminished over time” as he defended the decision to stick to the annual increase despite cost of living pressures.

“The simplest and easiest way for Queenslanders not to have to pay a penalty or fine, indexed or otherwise, is not to break the law,” he said.

Queensland Deputy Premier Cameron Dick.

Each year the state government can choose to increase the cost of vehicle fees and charges and traffic fines, typically by annual inflation figures.

But Mr Dick has already declared cost of registering a car in Queensland will not increase next financial year under a $70m hip pocket relief measure.

A total of 72 per cent of vehicles register have four cylinders, with the registration component alone in July 2023 costing $360.60. The move to freeze registration will save those motorists about $15.

Eligible seniors and concession card holders already get 50 per cent off registration fees and that will continue, with the government noting 134,000 people were receiving the discount.

Originally published as Misbehaving motorists to be slapped with new fine hikes on July 1, 2024