Cols NSW 2023: What you need to know
Drivers in NSW and the ACT now risk double demerit points if caught breaking the rules over the long weekend.
Penalties for reckless drivers will vary across the country, with some states, such as Victoria and South Australia, choosing not to impose harsher penalties.
Western Australia has imposed double demerits on the King’s Birthday, which the state celebrated on September 25, but police will not enforce the same rule this weekend.
From 12.01am on Friday, police in both NSW and the ACT began enforcing double demerits, with the penalties in force until 11.59pm on Monday.
This means that if a driver is caught using his phone while behind the wheel, he will receive ten penalty points instead of the standard penalty of five penalty points.
Drivers in NSW and the ACT now risk double demerit points if caught breaking the rules over the long weekend
Double demerits will be in force for four days, from Friday September 29 to Monday October 2, as police look to combat fatigue and recklessness this long weekend
New South Wales
From 12.01am on Friday, NSW Police will penalize anyone caught breaking road rules this weekend with additional demerit points.
These increased penalties will remain in effect across the state until 11:59 PM on Monday.
Anyone caught speeding, using a mobile phone behind the wheel, not wearing a seat belt in the car and riding a bicycle without a helmet risks double demerit points.
ACT
According to the ACT, police will start imposing double demerit points from 12.01am on Friday, with the more severe penalties in force until 11.59pm on Monday.
The federal police will be alert to violations of speeding, seat belts, helmets or mobile phones.
Other offences, such as driving at night without headlights, will still cost drivers the loss of an additional penalty point if caught.
Queensland
In Queensland, double points are not in effect at any time during the year and this standard will not be changed before or after the Labor Day weekend.
However, repeat offenders caught committing the same offense more than once within a twelve-month period are routinely hit with double demerits in the state.
This includes anyone driving more than 20km/h over the limit, as well as those using their mobile phone behind the wheel, or seat belt and motorcycle helmet violations.
In NSW, ACT and QLD drivers receive double demerit points for varying degrees of violations, with ACT targeting specific violations and NSW doubling them for any violations
VIC, SA, TAS and NT will not change their sentences over the next four days, but WA did when they celebrated the King’s Birthday in September
Western Australia
In Western Australia, double points are not awarded for all public holidays.
There will be no special penalties for drivers in the state this weekend.
Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania
In Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Northern Territory, police will issue violations as usual without harsher penalties.
That does not mean that drivers should feel too comfortable, the police warn.
In the Garden State, Victorian Police announced Operation Regal on Thursday, which will see more patrols on the roads over the long weekend.