Demerit points last for three years on your licence – from the date of offence – no matter which state or territory you live in.
NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, ACT and NT – all subscribe to this same time period.
That’s because every Australian state and territory adheres to a national demerit point licensing system – meaning when you get in trouble, as well as a fine, you get ‘points’ assigned to your licence.
All new drivers start with “zero” demerit points. Accrue enough points – for speeding, or running red lights, for example – over a certain period of time, and you may face additional action, like a licence suspension.
The idea is partly so the wealthy don’t flout the law and simply accept something like a speeding fine as the cost of doing business. Parking fines, for example, are usually demerit-point-free.
For example, say you live in NSW, get a speeding fine in 2010 and accrue three demerit points. Those three points will ‘expire’ and come back ‘off’ your licence after three years.
Demerit points may come and go on your licence as you get fines. So long as they don’t exceed a certain amount, you’re okay (save for the hundreds or thousands of dollars you’re spending on avoidable fines, of course).
Something else to keep in mind is demerit points are transferable between states. For example, if you’re from NSW and get a speeding fine in Victoria, however many demerit points that infringement would get you in NSW, will be added to your NSW licence.
Depending on the state or territory, you are allowed different demerit point limits for your licence type. In NSW, for example, a fully licensed driver can accrue up to 13 demerit points in a three-year period before facing something like a licence suspension. If you’re a “professional driver”, it’s 14 points. But if you’re a P-plater on a P1 licence, it’s just four points – meaning you have to be very well behaved indeed.
While demerit points “expire”, they still are recorded against your driving record – even after three years – and can be used against you in court. In NSW, if you exceed your demerit point limit twice in five years, you must pass a test and complete a traffic offender intervention program.
We spoke to police or transport authorities in each Australian state and territory to confirm this information.
Disclaimer: This article does not constitute legal advice and should be considered a general guide only. Individual circumstances may vary.
