Drivers warned as double penalties begin TODAY in four days of police blitz for King’s Birthday long weekend
- Police on the move over the long weekend
- New rules will bring double points
Double points will be handed out in NSW and the ACT this June long weekend as police focus specifically on dangerous driving on our roads.
The four-day operation will take place across NSW and the ACT, with policing Friday to Monday.
Double demerit points will be applied to all speeding, seat belt and mobile phone violations, as well as driving without a helmet.
All other traffic violations result in an additional penalty point.
Officer in Charge of ACT Road Police Acting Inspector Ken Williams said police were dialing in their road presence ahead of the mass holiday ‘exodus’ normally seen in the ACT.
Double penalty points will apply for traffic violations during the long weekend of the King’s birthday
“When traveling interstate, remember to drive according to conditions and take frequent breaks,” he said.
“We want people to do the right thing … slow down, obey the speed limit and if you’re drinking all weekend, please don’t drive.”
Inspector Williams took the opportunity to urge motorists to cooperate with police in their road safety operations over the long weekend of the Sovereign’s birthday.
“The police don’t want to hand out violations, but we will if we see drivers breaking the traffic rules,” he said.
In addition to an increased police presence on state and territory roads, cell phone detection cameras will also remain active through the long weekend.
During this time, a driver caught using his cell phone will be fined $352, which increases to $469 if in a school zone, and an eye-watering 10 demerit points.
For each person not wearing a seatbelt during this time, they will incur six demerit points and a fine of $352.
A driver with four or more unrestrained passengers can expect 12 demerit points and a whopping $1,487 fine.
The road crackdown applies Friday through Monday in NSW and the ACT
Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania do not use double demerit points in their road safety strategies.
For road users enjoying the King’s Birthday long weekend in these states and territories, the usual penalties and fines will apply, although there will likely be an increased police presence on the roads.
Western Australia and Queensland will observe the King’s birthday bank holiday on Monday, September 25 and Monday, October 2, respectively.
Although Queensland uses double demerit points, they do not only apply during holiday periods as in NSW, the ACT and WA – they instead apply to drivers who repeatedly commit specific offenses within a 12 month period.
This system may still apply to Queensland licensees who commit traffic offenses in other states and territories.
While the demerit points in NSW and the ACT are doubled over the four-day period, the fines remain the same.