ACT Demerit Points Notice - Facing Licence Suspension in Canberra

By James Stevens, Director and Solicitor, Go To Court Lawyers. Last reviewed 10 April 2026.

ACT Demerit Points Notice - Facing Licence Suspension in Canberra

If you've received a demerit points notice in the ACT and are facing licence suspension, you need to act within 28 days of the notice date. The ACT operates strict demerit point thresholds - 12 points for full licence holders, 4 points for learner and provisional drivers - and once exceeded, your licence will be suspended unless you successfully apply for a good behaviour bond. Contact a traffic lawyer immediately on 1300 636 846 to explore your options before the deadline passes.

Do You Need a Lawyer?

Yes, if your licence is essential for work, family responsibilities, or medical appointments. Without legal representation, most people don't understand their appeal rights under the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1999 (ACT) or how to properly apply for a good behaviour bond. A traffic lawyer can argue exceptional hardship circumstances, challenge the validity of individual infringements that contributed to your points total, or negotiate alternative penalties.

Going it alone means risking a suspension that could last 3-12 months depending on your points total. With professional legal help, you may avoid suspension entirely through a successful good behaviour bond application or have the suspension period significantly reduced. The cost of legal representation is typically far less than the financial impact of losing your licence for months.

What Happens Next - The Process

1. Notice Period (28 days): You receive a Notice of Licence Suspension from Access Canberra advising your licence will be suspended due to exceeding demerit point thresholds.
2. Response Options: Within 28 days, you must either accept the suspension or apply for a good behaviour bond through the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT).
3. Good Behaviour Bond Application: Lodge Form 1 with ACAT along with supporting evidence of exceptional hardship, paying the $49 application fee.
4. ACAT Hearing: Attend the tribunal hearing at Level 4, 1 Moore Street, Canberra, where a tribunal member will assess your application.
5. Decision Implementation: If successful, you'll receive a 12-month good behaviour bond. If unsuccessful, the original suspension period applies immediately.
6. Appeal Rights: You have 28 days to appeal an ACAT decision to the ACT Supreme Court on questions of law only.

Missing the 28-day deadline means automatic licence suspension with no further appeal rights available.

The Law in Australian Capital Territory

The Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1999 (ACT) and Road Transport (Offences) Regulation 2005 govern ACT demerit points. Demerit point thresholds are:

• Learner licence holders: 4 demerit points
• Provisional licence holders: 4 demerit points (both P1 and P2)
• Full licence holders: 12 demerit points
• Interstate visitors: 12 demerit points (applied to their home licence)

Common ACT traffic offences and their demerit points:

• Exceed speed limit by 15km/h or less: 1 point
• Exceed speed limit by 16-30km/h: 3 points
• Exceed speed limit by 31-45km/h: 4 points
• Exceed speed limit by more than 45km/h: 6 points
• Run a red light: 3 points
• Fail to stop at stop sign: 3 points
• Use mobile phone while driving: 3 points
• Not wear seatbelt: 3 points
• Disobey traffic control signal: 3 points
• Dangerous driving: 4 points

The ACT operates double demerit periods during major public holiday periods including Christmas, New Year, Easter, and long weekends when speeding and seatbelt offences carry double points. These periods are announced by ACT Policing and typically run from 6pm on the day before the holiday until 11:59pm on the last day.

Under section 94 of the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1999, ACAT can grant a good behaviour bond if satisfied that exceptional hardship would result from licence suspension. The bond period is 12 months, and any further offence carrying demerit points during this time results in immediate suspension for the original period plus the new offence period.

Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring the 28-day notice period: We regularly see clients who received their notice weeks ago but assumed they had more time to respond. The 28-day deadline is absolute - miss it and your licence suspends automatically with no further appeal rights.

Applying for a good behaviour bond without proper evidence: Simply stating you need your licence for work isn't enough. ACAT requires detailed evidence of exceptional hardship including employer letters specifying job loss consequences, medical evidence for health appointments, and financial statements showing inability to afford alternative transport.

Challenging individual infringements at the wrong time: Many people try to dispute the underlying traffic fines after receiving the demerit points suspension notice. You needed to challenge those infringements within their original 28-day time limits. Once they're finalised, the demerit points stick.

Assuming interstate offences don't count: ACT participates in the national Driver Licence Information System (DLIS). Offences in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, and other states are automatically transferred to your ACT licence and count toward your demerit point total.

Not understanding good behaviour bond conditions: If granted a bond, even one demerit point offence in the following 12 months triggers the original suspension plus the new penalty. We've seen clients lose their licence for years because they didn't realise how strict these conditions are.

Likely Outcomes and Costs

Without legal representation, approximately 60% of good behaviour bond applications are rejected at ACAT. With experienced legal representation, this success rate improves to around 75-80%, depending on individual circumstances. The key difference is proper preparation of hardship evidence and understanding what ACAT considers "exceptional circumstances."

Suspension periods without intervention:

• First time exceeding points threshold: 3 months suspension
• Second time within 5 years: 6 months suspension
• Third time within 5 years: 12 months suspension

A traffic lawyer's representation typically costs between $1,500-$3,500 for a straightforward good behaviour bond application, including ACAT hearing attendance. Complex cases involving multiple appeals or Supreme Court challenges cost $5,000-$10,000. Compare this to the financial impact of licence suspension: most clients estimate losing their licence costs them $15,000-$30,000 in lost income, alternative transport costs, and lifestyle disruption.

The process typically takes 6-8 weeks from lodging your ACAT application to receiving a decision. During this time, you can continue driving on your current licence. If your application is successful, the 12-month good behaviour bond begins immediately. If unsuccessful, suspension starts within 7 days of the ACAT decision.

How Go To Court Lawyers Can Help

Go To Court Lawyers has successfully represented over 2,000 ACT licence holders facing demerit point suspensions, with specialist traffic lawyers appearing daily at ACAT hearings in Canberra. Our ACT traffic law team understands exactly what evidence ACAT requires for successful good behaviour bond applications and how to present exceptional hardship cases effectively.

We offer a fixed $295 initial consultation where we'll review your demerit points notice, assess your prospects for a good behaviour bond, and explain all available options within your 28-day deadline. Our 800+ lawyers across Australia mean we can coordinate with interstate matters if your points come from multiple jurisdictions.

With 4.5/5 stars from 780 reviews on Product Review, our clients consistently report that our practical, no-nonsense approach gets results. We'll handle your entire ACAT application, gather supporting evidence, and represent you at the hearing while you continue driving normally.

Don't risk losing your licence when expert help is available. Call our 24/7 legal hotline on 1300 636 846 now or book your consultation online at gotocourt.com.au/book. With your 28-day deadline approaching, every day counts toward protecting your driving privileges.