Everything you need to know about demerit points this Queen's birthday long weekend
To mark the Queen’s birthday, all states and territories in Australia, except Queensland and Western Australia will enjoy a long weekend - but where should driver’s watch out for extra penalties for driving offences?
The Queen’s birthday is celebrated on Monday, June 8 in most of Australia, but not all states apply double demerit points.
Here is a state-by-state guide to double demerits on this year’s Queen’s birthday long weekend.
NSW
This long weekend, NSW Police will be targeting reckless road users in Operation Stay Alert.
Double demerits started at midnight on Friday, June 5, and end 11.59pm on Monday June 8 across the state.
Officers will be targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, driving while fatigued, mobile phone use, not wearing a helmet “and other offences”.
Earlier this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, NSW Police suspended stationary Random Breath Testing (RBT).
As the state eased restrictions at the start of the week, NSW Police resumed stationary RBT’s on Wednesday.
“Drivers can expect to see plenty of officers out on our streets, enforcing the road rules and ensuring that all road users reach their destination safely,” Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said.
“And now with stationary RBT and RDT operational again alongside our mobile testing, there won’t be anywhere you can hide if you’ve consumed alcohol or prohibited drugs.”
“So slow down, put your phone away and have a Plan B if you are consuming alcohol – otherwise, you’ll meet with one of our officers who will take the appropriate action.”
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You can check your demerit points online through Service NSW and view the list of offences and the demerit points they carry on the Transport for NSW website.
Demerit points stay on your record for three years, starting from the date of an offence.
ACT
Like NSW, double demerits apply this weekend in the ACT from Friday until 11.59pm on Monday.
This weekend, if you are caught speeding, not wearing a seatbelt or helmet and using your mobile phone double demerits will be doubled, along with certain other offences.
“If you commit other traffic offences which have demerit points, one extra demerit point will be added,” the ACT Government’s Access Canberra warns.
You can check the penalties for varies offences through Access Canberra’s website.
RBT’s will also be operational during this long weekend, unlike NSW operations were not suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“ACT Policing has provided advice to our members to maximise hygiene controls to continue to conduct roadside alcohol and drug testing safely,” ACT Police said in March.
No double demerits for Victoria, SA, NT or Tasmania
Unlike NSW and the ACT, Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania do not have double demerits on any long weekends.
However, the Queen’s birthday is celebrated this long weekend in Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania.
Queensland and Western Australia
The Queen’s birthday is not celebrated in Queensland and Western Australia on same day as the rest of Australia.
WA will mark the Queens birthday on September 28, while Queensland on October 5.
WA does dish out double demerits during holiday periods and on public holidays, and Queensland enforces double demerits year round for repeat offenders.
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