Traffic fines, demerit points and your licence

Paying a composition sum

A relevant authorised officer may compound any offence under the Road Traffic Act or its rules that is prescribed as compoundable, by collecting from a person reasonably suspected of committing it a sum not exceeding the lower of half the maximum fine prescribed for the offence and $5,000.

Road Traffic Act s 135(1)

On payment of the composition sum, no further proceedings are taken against that person for the offence.

Road Traffic Act s 135(1A)

Demerit points and suspension

The Deputy Commissioner of Police may suspend a person's driving licence for up to 5 years if the person's record, conduct or habits as a driver establish that it would not be in the interests of public safety for them to hold a valid licence, or that they are not competent to drive.

Road Traffic Act s 45(1)

The Minister may make rules for a system of awarding points against a person for offences, and the Deputy Commissioner may treat a person who is awarded points equal to or above the suspension threshold within a prescribed period as not competent to drive.

Road Traffic Act s 45(2), (3)

Before suspending a licence this way, the Deputy Commissioner must give you a notice with the reasons and a proposed suspension date at least 4 weeks away, and a period of at least 4 weeks in which you can make representations or objections.

Road Traffic Act s 46(1)

After considering your representations, the Deputy Commissioner may suspend the licence on the proposed date, or postpone the date if you say you will attend a prescribed safe driving course, and suspend the licence on the later date when you complete it.

Road Traffic Act s 46(2)

While your licence is suspended this way, you must not drive a motor vehicle on a road under any other driving licence. Driving a motor vehicle on a road while your driving licence is suspended under section 45 is an offence.

Road Traffic Act s 47(4), (5)

Disqualification by a court

When a court convicts a person of an offence in connection with driving a motor vehicle, it may, in addition to the punishment for the offence, disqualify them from holding or obtaining a driving licence for life or for any period it thinks fit.

Road Traffic Act s 42(1)

If you are disqualified for less than one year, your licence is suspended while the disqualification lasts. If you are disqualified for one year or longer, your licence is of no effect, and after the disqualification you must not drive until you pass the prescribed test of competence to drive.

Road Traffic Act s 43(1)

Drink driving

Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle on a road or in another public place while unfit to drive through drink or drugs, or with alcohol in your breath or blood above the prescribed limit, is an offence. On a first conviction, the fine is not less than $2,000 and not more than $10,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both.

Road Traffic Act s 67(1)

Unless the court for special reasons orders otherwise, and subject to the exceptions the section names, a first offender convicted of it is disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for at least 2 years, and a repeat offender for at least 5 years.

Road Traffic Act s 67(2)

Driving without a licence

You must not drive a motor vehicle of any class on a road unless you hold a driving licence for that class, except as the Act provides. The penalty on a first conviction is a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment of up to 3 years, or both.

Road Traffic Act s 35(1), (3)