Article Category - Criminal Law and Traffic Offences By Shanaya Stapleton 28 September 2021

The NSW Police Minister David Elliot has announced that no double demerit period will be in place in NSW this October long weekend.

After a long and difficult year battling COVID-19, the Minister stated that the decision was made to give people some relief during lockdown. He noted that Police are aware of the anxiety and stress the Public Health Orders have created in the community and hoped this would help give people a break during these tough times. This is the first time Double Demerit points have been suspended since they were first introduced in 1997.

Offences which we usually see attract large demerit points over the long weekends include:

  • Using a mobile phone while driving, which attracts 10 demerit points during double demerits;
  • Speeding between 10-20km/hr over the speed limit which attracts 6 demerit points during the double demerit point period;
  • For L and P Platers- speeding not more than 10km/hr attracts 8 demerit points during the double demerit period;
  • Speeding more than 45km/hr over the speed limit, which attracts 12 demerit points during the double demerit period.

Police will still commence a road traffic campaign from 12:01am Friday 1 October 2021 to 12:59pm on Monday 4 October 2021, to ensure the road rules are complied with. Police will issue fines, demerit points and court attendance notices for breaches of road rules, and stay-at-home orders this weekend, however, road rule breaches will only attract the usual amount of demerit points.

Stay safe on our roads this long weekend!

For assistance with any traffic-related matter, please call our experienced team on (02) 6331 2911. We're here to help!

Shanaya Stapleton | Solicitor

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