Demerit Points in the ACT
Demerit Points in the ACT
Demerit points in the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) are a penalty that you may receive when you commit a traffic offence. The demerit point system is a national scheme and if you commit a traffic offence interstate, points may still be added to your ACT drivers licensing record.
When you are first issued with a licence, you start with no demerit points on your record. If you exceed the maximum allowable demerit points for your licence type, then your licence will be suspended.
If you move from a learner licence to a provisional licence your demerit points will again be reset to zero. This is not the case for moving between any other licence types.
Demerit points are not removed from your record but are only counted towards a suspension if the offence happened within the relevant time period.
The law in the ACT that governs demerit points is the Road Transport (General) Act 1999.
Calculating demerit points in the ACT
Demerit points in the ACT are counted over any 3 year period. This period is calculated from the date that the most recent offence occurred. This means that if you receive a traffic infringement, the demerit points that go with this infringement will count towards the 3 year period on either side of the date of the offence.
If you get more than your allowed demerit points within these periods, your driver licence will be suspended and you are not allowed to drive anywhere in Australia. If you are on a full licence, the more demerit points that you get within the 3 year period, the longer the period of suspension that will apply.
You can check how many demerit point you have accumulated on your ACT driver’s licence by phoning Access Canberra on 13 22 81.
If you commit a demerit point offence, the points are added when either:
- you make a payment towards the infringement
- you ask for an extension of time to pay the infringement
- a sanction is recorded because you did not pay the infringement in the time allowed.
Suspension periods for a Full ACT Driver Licence
If you are the holder of a Full ACT Driver Licence, the demerit points threshold in any 3 year period is 12. Your licence will be suspended if you get 12 or more demerit points within that 3 year period. The suspension period is calculated according to the number of demerit points you have accumulated:
- for 12 to 15 demerit points you will be suspended for 3 months
- for 16 to 19 demerit points you will be suspended for 4 months
- for 20 or more demerit points you will be suspended for 5 months.
Suspension periods for other licences
Learner Licence holders – if you accumulate 12 or more demerit points in any 3 year period, you will be suspended for 3 months.
Provisional Licence holders – if you accumulate 4 or more demerit points during any 3 year period, your licence will be suspended for 6 months. However, if you have had your provisional licence for 6 months you can apply to have a ‘PC’ condition endorsed on your licence and your demerit point allowance will be increased to 8. To be eligible, you must have held a provisional licence for a continuous 6 months and either:
- have completed a Road Ready provisional licence course, or
- be over 26 years of age.
If you hold a Probationary Licence, your points threshold is 2. If you accrue 2 or more points, your licence will be cancelled and you will not be permitted to apply for another driver licence for 6 months.
Good Behaviour Period Alternative
If you hold a full ACT driver licence, you can choose to serve a 12 month Good Behaviour Period instead of having a demerit point suspension.
A Good Behaviour Period election can be made at any time after you are served with the notice of demerit point suspension. Once the election is made, the Good Behaviour Period commences either on the day the demerit point suspension was due to start or on the date your election was made (whichever occurs last).
When your Good Behaviour Period begins, your demerit point total is again returned to zero. For the 12 months of the Good Behaviour Period, your demerit point threshold is 2 demerit points. You will be suspended for double the original suspension period if you accrue 2 or more demerit points during the Good Behaviour Period.
You need to lodge a notice of your election for a Good Behaviour Bond with Access Canberra.
Related Content
Michelle Makela
National Practice Manager
Michelle Makela is a Legal Practice Director at Go To Court Lawyers. She holds a Juris Doctor, a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and a Master of Criminology. She was admitted to practice in 2006. Michelle has over 15 years experience in the legal industry, working across commercial litigation, criminal law, family law and estate planning.
Affordable Lawyers
Our Go To Court Lawyers will assist you in all areas of law. We specialise in providing legal advice urgently – at the time when you need it most. If you need a lawyer right now, today, we can help you – no matter where you are in Australia.How It Works
1. You speak directly to a lawyer
When you call the Go To Court Legal Hotline, you will be connected directly to a lawyer, every time.
2. Get your legal situation assessed
We determine the best way forward in your legal matter, free of charge. If you want to go ahead and book a face-to-face appointment, we will connect you with a specialist in your local area.
3. We arrange everything as needed
If you want to go ahead and book a fact-to-face appointment, we will connect you with a specialist in your local area no matter where you are and even at very short notice.
Related Law Topics
Exceeding Demerit Point Limits in NSW
The Demerit Points Scheme is a system designed to encourage safe and responsible driving by imposing demerit points for a range of driving offences. Along with financial penalties, demerit points provide a strong incentive to drivers to drive within signposted speed restrictions and obey other road rules. Any driver who exceeds the ....
Posted in:
Penalties
Demerit Points in South Australia
As well as the penalties in the Road Traffic Act 1961, many traffic and driving offences also attract demerit points in South Australia. These points are recorded by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles against the driver’s licence. If you commit an offence interstate, demerit points are also recorded against your South ....
Posted in:
Penalties
What If I Get Disqualified From Driving For Life? (WA)
What If I Get Disqualified From Driving For Life? (WA) In recent years, the Western Australian government has been cracking down on drivers who repeatedly commit traffic offences. Whilst the vast majority of traffic offenders are dealt with by way of infringements where they pay a fine and incur some ....
Posted in:
Penalties
Impoundment and Immobilisation of Vehicles (Vic)
Under the Road Safety Act 1986, Victorian courts have the power to order that a vehicle be impounded, immobilised or even forfeited, if certain traffic offences have been committed in it. Offences that can result in impoundment or immobilisation of a vehicle include driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving at a ....
Posted in:
Penalties
Demerit Points in New South Wales
The Demerit Points Scheme is a nation-wide program that allocates penalty points (demerits) for various driving offences. This means that demerit points accumulated interstate are also recorded against your New South Wales driver’s licence, or demerit points accumulated in New South Wales are recorded against your interstate licence. Demerit points ....
Posted in:
Penalties
Demerit Points in Western Australia
Demerit points in Western Australia are penalties which are imposed on you if you commit any of a range of traffic or driving offences. For some traffic offences you may receive up to 6 demerit points, or double in holiday seasons, as well as a fine. The laws that govern ....
Posted in:
Penalties
Demerit Points in the Northern Territory
Demerit Points in the Northern Territory The scheme relating to demerit points in the NT (Northern Territory) allocates points as penalties for certain traffic offences with the aim of improving driver behaviour. The relevant laws are in the Traffic Act and Traffic Regulations. Schedule 1 of the Regulations sets out the list of ....
Posted in:
Penalties
Failure To Pay Offences in New South Wales
Failure To Pay Offences in New South Wales The criminal offence of fail to pay (FTP) occurs when a person puts fuel in their car at a service station and leaves without paying. The offence is contained in section 192E of the Crimes Act 1900. A person may be found ....
Posted in:
Penalties
In Victoria, driving offences can attract demerit points as well as other penalties. Demerit points are recorded against a driver’s licence and if more than the maximum number of points is accrued, the driver may have their licence suspended. This system exists to encourage drivers to be careful when driving ....
Posted in:
Penalties
Demerit points in Tasmania are recorded on a driver’s licence for a range of traffic and driving offences. If a person who holds a Tasmanian driver’s licence commits a demerit point offence interstate, the details are sent to Tasmania to be recorded on their driver’s licence records. For a person driving ....
Posted in:
Penalties
Driver Licence Disqualification Reforms in NSW
Driver Licence Disqualification Reforms in NSW Licence Disqualification – New Legislation, New Approach The law with respect to driver licence disqualification in New South Wales has been amended under the new Road Transport Amendment (Driver Licence Disqualification) Act 2017 (NSW). The amendments came into effect as of 28 October 2017. The purpose for ....
Posted in:
Penalties
If you hold a Queensland driver’s licence or permit and commit a traffic offence in Queensland or any other state or territory in Australia, demerit points can be recorded on your Queensland traffic history. The laws that cover demerit points are in the Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Road Rules) ....
Posted in:
Penalties