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The one state where this could cop you double demerits year round

Double demerits will soon come into effect for the Christmas holidays, but not all Australian states and territories enforce them equally.

Some impose double demerits year-round, while others opt out entirely – though drivers from some states can still cop double demerit penalties across borders.

Here's when and where double demerits will be enforced over the 2025 Christmas holidays.

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New South Wales, Australia, April 24, 2024-Police take Breath Tests for alcohol and other drugs for drivers during the long weekend

NSW, the ACT and WA

NSW, the ACT and WA impose double demerits over most holiday periods and long weekends, including:

  • the Christmas and New Year period
  • Australia Day
  • Easter
  • Anzac Day
  • King's Birthday
  • Labour Day
  • state-specific public holidays (e.g. WA Day)

Double demerits only apply to specific road offences.

In NSW, they are: speeding, using a mobile phone while driving, riding without a helmet, not wearing or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt (drivers and passengers).

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The same rules apply in the ACT, and a few additional offences are subject to double demerits in WA.

They are: drink or drug driving, running a red light, driving a vehicle fitted with a device designed to evade detection by a speed camera, and driving in a manner to evade detection by a speed camera.

Double demerits will be enforced on the following dates over the Christmas holidays:

  • NSW: December 24 to January 4
  • ACT: December 24 to January 4
  • WA: December 19 to January 4

Queensland

Queensland also imposes double demerits, though in a slightly different way.

Instead of limiting double demerits to holiday periods, they are enforced year-round and apply to motorists who repeatedly commit specific offences.

These offences include:

  • speeding more than 20km/h over the speed limit
  • mobile phone offences
  • driver seatbelt offences
  • seatbelt offences for passengers under 16
  • motorcycle helmet offences

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Heavy traffic in Brisbane, Australia.

Drivers will have double demerits applied if they're caught repeating an offence from the same offence group two or more times within a year.

For example, a driver caught on their phone will receive double demerits if they are caught using it a second or subsequent time within 12 months.

Victoria, SA, NT and Tasmania

Unlike the other states, Victoria, SA, NT and Tasmania don't impose double demerits at all.

But that doesn't mean drivers are totally in the clear.

Motorists who hold a Queensland licence could still cop double demerits if they're caught committing an eligible offence in another state or territory.

That's because Queensland drivers who commit demerit-point offences interstate are subject to the demerit points that apply in their home state for the same offence.

The same goes for drivers from NSW, who are also subject to double demerits in their home state if they're caught breaking the rules across state lines.

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