Australians gearing up for the October long weekend are being reminded to watch out on the roads, with double demerits kicking in across some states from midnight tonight.
Police in many states have warned they will be out in force, targeting speeding, seatbelts, mobile phone use and motorcyclists not wearing helmets.
But not every state or territory has double demerit points.
READ MORE: These are the states and territories getting a public holiday in October
Here is when double demerits apply this Labour Day long weekend.
NSW and the ACT
In NSW and the ACT, double demerits will kick in at midnight tonight and will remain in place for four days – until midnight on Monday.
During this period, double demerit points apply for speeding, illegal use of mobile phones, not wearing a seat belt and riding without a motorcycle helmet.
For example, any driver caught using their mobile phone this long weekend will be hit with a $410 fine and lose 10 out of 13 demerit points off their licence.
The ACT follows a similar system, with one additional demerit point applied (rather than double) for more minor offences such as failing to keep left.
If you reach your demerit point limit, your licence can be suspended.
Queensland
Unlike NSW and the ACT, Queenslanders will be celebrating the King’s Birthday, not Labour Day, coming Monday.
However, Queensland approaches double demerits differently to NSW, WA, and the ACT.
Rather than having them in place for all drivers around public holidays, the Sunshine State instead keeps them in effect year-round, but only for drivers who commit the same offence twice in the space of 12 months.
This applies for speeding more than 20km/h over the limit, as well as mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle helmet offences.
Moreover, if you are a Queensland licence holder and commit a traffic offence anywhere in Australia, demerit points may be applied as if the offence was committed in Queensland.
South Australia
While South Australians will be celebrating Labour Day on Monday October 7, the state doesn’t operate a double demerit points system for public holidays.
That means penalties for driving offences committed this weekend are the same as for those committed at any other time of the year.
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Victoria, WA, NT and Tasmania
In unfortunate news for those living in Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, you won’t get the October long weekend this year.
Western Australia is the only one of these states which utilises a double demerits system, which was in effect two weeks ago when the state recognised the King’s Birthday long weekend from September 20 to 23.
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