Caught speeding: What to do if you have a fine
Speeding fines and demerit points can result in licence suspension or worse. Here’s how to pay or dispute a fine.
Speeding fines and demerit points have the potential to cause a driver major financial strife as well as being a risk to their licence.
Here’s everything you need to know.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE CAUGHT SPEEDING
If you are caught breaking the road rules, you must pay a fine.
Drivers and riders can both be fined or receive demerit points if they are caught travelling over the speed limit.
Those caught speeding excessively could face harsher penalties such as licence cancellation, suspension, vehicle impoundment and immobilisation.
In Victoria, a driver has 21 days to pay a speeding fine, while those in NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory have 28 days to cover the fine before they are served a reminder notice.
CAN I FIND OUT IF I’VE BEEN CAUGHT SPEEDING?
There are ways of checking if you have been issued with a speeding fine depending on where you are located.
Victorians can log into Fines Victoria and enter an infringement number or details about your licence and vehicle.
Once logged in, the driver will see a list of fines.
In NSW, you can use the Service NSW app, while Queenslanders can access their fine information via the transport and motoring section on the government's website.
Drivers in South Australia can view and pay their overdue fines at Fines Online by entering their reference number to log in.
In the Northern Territory, drivers can view fines online under the fines section on the nt.gov.au website.
ACT drivers can log into Access Canberra on the ACT government website to view and manage fines.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR A SPEEDING FINE TO ARRIVE?
The average time to receive a speed-camera fine is about two weeks in most states, but it can take up to 28 days in NSW.
In Tasmania, you could receive one electronically in as little as four days.
HOW CAN I PAY FOR MY SPEEDING FINE?
Each state and territory in Australia has its own online portal for checking, paying, or appealing traffic penalties. See links below.
HOW DO I CHECK MY DEMERIT POINTS?
As a driver you start with zero demerit points. If you commit an offence that has a demerit point penalty, they are then added to your driving record.
In Victoria, drivers can check their demerit points by logging onto their VicRoads account or calling 1300 728 977 at any time for an automated check.
Drivers in NSW can go to Service NSW to check their balance, while Queenslanders can see if they have accumulated demerit points by going to the Queensland government’s site.
Drivers in the Northern Territory can either call the Motor Vehicle Registry on 1300 654 628 or log into the state government’s website with their driver's licence number.
ACT motorists can call Access Canberra on 13 22 81 or visit an Access Canberra Service Centre to check how many demerit points they have accumulated.
In South Australia, drivers can check their demerit points by logging into their mySAGOV account.
Those in Western Australia can check online on the Department of Transport website or call the Demerit Point Hotline on 1300 720 111.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GET 5 DEMERIT POINTS ON LEARNERS?
Demerit points are a type of penalty imposed on your permit or licence when you commit certain traffic offences.
If you get too many demerit points, your licence will be suspended.
Victorian drivers on a full licence have a limit point of 12 demerit points in any three-year period.
Those on a learners permit in both Victoria and the Northern Territory have a demerit point limit of five points in any 12-month period and 12 points in any three-year period.
In NSW, Queensland, South Australia, the ACT and Western Australia, learner drivers who get four or more demerit points within a continuous one-year period will have their licence suspended.
DOES QLD HAVE DOUBLE DEMERITS?
Double demerit points apply to Queensland drivers at any time of the year, unlike other states and territories.
Queensland drivers who repeatedly commit specific offences will receive double demerit points for the second or subsequent offence if the later offence was committed within 12 months of an earlier offence.
HOW DO I GET OUT OF A SPEEDING FINE IN AUSTRALIA?
If you receive a speeding fine or infringement notice, you can dispute the notice by applying for an internal review by the infringement agency or applying to challenge the infringement notice in the Magistrates’ Court.
In Victoria, drivers who believe they have been unfairly issued with a fine, or that there is a valid reason why their fine should be withdrawn, may be able to request a review by logging on to Fines Victoria.
Only one application for internal review can be made regarding any one infringement offence and each application is judged on a case-by-case basis.
In NSW, drivers can request a review of a fine by logging into my Penalty and entering their details.
Revenue NSW will consider the personal situation and any special circumstances that resulted in the person receiving the fine.
Queensland drivers can dispute a fine within 28 days of the date of the infringement notice by logging into www.qld.gov.au/contestfine.
Those in South Australia can contact the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit on 1800 659 538 or log into their account and complete an application for review of enforcement.
In the ACT, drivers can apply to dispute the fine if they believe they haven’t committed an offence or weren’t liable by using the Traffic and Parking Infringements Applications form to make an application.
Northern Territory motorists can contact the agency that issued the fine, while those in Western Australia can contact Infringement Management and Operations on (08) 9374 4555.
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