Shannen Findlay
Legal

Double demerits have started: Your guide to where and when the police will be cracking down this Easter

Stiff penalties are guaranteed this Easter holidays if motorists choose to disobey the road rules.

Police are warning drivers to be aware as if they are caught speeding, illegally using their mobile phone, not wearing seatbelts and riding without a helmet they will incur pretty hefty fines and double demerits.

In NSW, drivers can lose 10 demerit points and be fined $337 for using their phones while driving.

Be especially careful to not break the law while near a school zone as the fine can increase up to $448.

In ACT, for the same offence, motorists can receive a whopping $557 and six demerit points lost.

Motorcyclists caught riding without a helmet will lose six demerit points and have to pay $337 in penalties.

Those who ride and carry a passenger not wearing a helmet will lose 12 demerit points and two passengers without helmets will lose 18 points and receive a $1085 fine.

NSW drivers who are caught not wearing a seatbelt without driving will incur a $337 penalty and lose six demerit points.

If a driver with two passengers with unfastened belts can pay up to $673 in fines and lose 12 points on their license.

The fine can increase to $1085 for three unrestrained passengers and $1422 for four.

That’s not the only hefty penalties drivers can incur as speeding is also a targeted law being targeted during the double demerit period.

Passing a school bus going more than 40km/h can result in a driver losing 12 demerit points and a fine of up to $3691.

Drivers speeding over 10km/h will receive a penalty of $353 and eight demerit points lost.

Western Australia is not left out of the stiff penalties during the Easter period and can receive a loss of four demerit points and a fine of $5000 if they are caught going 9km/h over the speed limit.

Double demerit points and fines for offences on Australian roads

Illegal use of mobile phones

New South Wales: 10 demerit points and $337 fine

Australian Capital Territory: 6 demerit points

Western Australia: 6 demerit points and $400 fine

Not wearing a helmet

New South Wales: 6 demerit points and $337 fine

Australian Capital Territory: 6 demerit points

Western Australia: 0 demerit points and $550 fine

Not wearing a seatbelt

New South Wales: 6 demerit points and $330 fine

Australian Capital Territory: 6 demerit points

Western Australia: 8 demerit points and $550 fine

Speeding over 10km/h

New South Wales (exceed speed over 10 km/h): 6 demerit points and $472 fine

Australian Capital Territory (exceeding the speed limit by less than 15 km/h): 2 demerit points

Western Australia (between 9km/h and 19km/h): 4 demerit points and $200 fine

Speeding over 40km/h

New South Wales: 14 demerit points and $3821 fine

Australian Capital Territory (Exceeding the speed limit by 30 km/h but less than 45 km/h): 8 demerit points

Western Australia : 14 demerit points and a fine of $1500

Queensland does not enforce double demerits during the holidays however, repeat offenders will lose double the points (all year round) if a subsequent offence occurs within 12 months of the first.

Double demerits do not apply in South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria or the Northern Territory.

Tags:
legal, driving, fines, driving fines, motorists, easter holidays, double demerit, holidays, ANZAC