Double demerit points
In Queensland, double demerit points apply all year round.
Unlike other states and territories, in Queensland double demerit points do not only apply during holiday periods.
People who repeatedly commit specific offences will receive double demerit points for the second or subsequent offence if the later offence was committed within 12 months of an earlier offence. This doesn’t just apply during holiday periods, but at any time of the year.
Note: If you are a Queensland licence holder and commit a traffic offence anywhere in Australia, demerit points may be applied and recorded on your traffic history as if the offence was committed in Queensland.
If you get too many demerit points, your driver licence could be suspended.
Types of offences
Double demerit points are applied for certain second or subsequent offences committed within 1 year of the previous offence.
This includes:
- offences for speeding more than 20km/h over the speed limit
- mobile phone offences
- driver seatbelt offences
- driver failing to ensure passengers under 16 are appropriately restrained
- motorcycle helmet offences.
You don’t have to commit the same offence a second or subsequent time to receive double demerit points—the offence only needs to be within the same offence group.
Examples
Example 1: learner licence
If, as a learner licence holder, you commit a driver seatbelt offence where you failed to wear a seatbelt, you will receive 4 demerit points. If you get 4 or more demerit points within a continuous 1-year period while you hold a Queensland class C learner licence, your licence will be suspended for 3 months.
If following this suspension period, you then commit a second seatbelt offence within 1 year, which includes driving a vehicle while a passenger under 16 is not restrained, you will receive 4 demerit points for the second offence, plus another 4 demerit points because the second offence was committed within 1 year of the first offence.
In total, 8 demerit points will be added to your traffic history for the second offence, which will result in a further driver licence suspension.
Note: you will not be eligible to apply for a provisional licence until you have held your learner licence for at least 12 months (within the last 5 years of applying for a P1 licence).
Example 2: provisional licence
If, as a provisional licence holder, you commit the offence of failing to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle, quad bike or utility off-road vehicle, you will receive 3 demerit points.
If you then commit a second motorcycle helmet offence within 1 year (e.g. failed to wear a helmet or failed to ensure a passenger wore a helmet), you will receive 3 demerit points for the second offence, plus another 3 demerit points because the second offence was committed within 1 year of the first offence.
In total, 6 demerit points will be added to your traffic history for the second offence, which would result in an 'Accumulation of demerit points – notice to choose' being sent to you.
Example 3: open licence
If, as an open licence holder, you commit the offence of illegally using a mobile phone while driving, you will receive 4 demerit points.
If you then commit a second mobile phone offence within 1 year, you would receive 4 demerit points for the second offence, plus another 4 demerit points because the second offence was committed within 1 year of the first offence.
In total, 8 demerit points will be added to your traffic history for the second offence, which would result in an 'Accumulation of demerit points – notice to choose' being sent to you.