King’s Birthday double demerits to start overnight

Double demerits will be in force in certain jurisdictions over the long weekend.

This means that if you get caught by police committing certain driving offences, it will cost you twice the licence points.

Offences in different jurisdictions include speeding, driving without a seatbelt, drink or drug driving, illegal phone use, riding without a helmet, running a red light, and dodging speed cameras.

Here’s what you need to know if you plan to hit the road this weekend.

New South Wales and the ACT

Both of these jurisdictions will have double demerits in place from 12.01am tomorrow, Friday, June 7, until 11.59pm Monday, June 10.

Double demerit offences in NSW include speeding, illegal use of a mobile phone, not wearing a seatbelt, and riding without a helmet.

“During the double demerit period for the King’s Birthday last year, we tragically lost 13 people on our roads,” Transport for NSW’s Centre for Road Safety and Maritime Safety chief Bernard Carlon said.

“We don’t want to lose more lives this public holiday, so please be careful when you’re on the road.”

Queensland doesn’t celebrate the King’s Birthday public holiday until October 7 – but double demerits are permanently in place in the state.

They’re enforced a little differently though.

In the Sunshine State, double demerits are awarded to people who commit the same offence twice in 12 months.

This applies for speeding more than 20km/h over the limit, as well as mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle helmet offences.

Western Australia does use a double demerits scheme, but it doesn’t celebrate the King’s Birthday long weekend this year until September 23.

Road rules operate as normal this weekend.

Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and the Northern Territory

None of these jurisdictions make use of a double demerits scheme.

However, police are sure to be out in numbers during the upcoming long weekend in each one, so drivers are urged to proceed cautiously and obey the road rules.