Double demerits in Queensland: when they apply, and how NSW differs

When do double demerits apply in Queensland?

Any day of the year. The Queensland Government's wording is that double demerit points apply all year round, not only during holiday periods, and that this is unlike other states and territories.^[1] What switches them on isn't the calendar but your own record: committing an offence in one of the listed groups within 1 year of an earlier offence in the same group.^[1]

The offences don't need to be identical. They only need to fall in the same group, so two different seatbelt offences, or two speeding offences of different amounts over 20 km/h, both count.^[1] If you've seen news stories about double demerits starting before a long weekend, those are about other states; nothing changes on Queensland roads at Easter or Christmas.

Which offences carry double points, and how many?

At the time of writing (November 2026), the base points in the Queensland schedule and what a repeat within 12 months adds are:^[3][1]

The fine stays the same; only the points double.^[1] Speeding by less than 21 km/h over isn't in a group, so a second minor speeding offence just adds its normal points. Amounts for every speeding band are in speeding fines and demerit points.

How is the 12 months counted?

Points count from the date of the offence, not the date you pay. They're recorded on your traffic history once the fine is paid or referred to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry for non-payment, a court convicts you, or an interstate order is issued.^[2] So a phone fine you're still sitting on doesn't reset anything: the clock started on the day of the offence.

A Queensland licence holder can check their accumulated points, the period counted and the recorded offences with the government's online demerit points service.^[2]

What does a doubled offence do to your licence?

It depends on the licence. Learner, provisional and probationary licences reach their limit at 4 or more points in any 1-year period; an open licence at 12 or more points in any 3-year period.^[2] A single offence on a learner or provisional licence can reach that limit already. The government's three worked examples:^[1]

• Learner: a seatbelt offence is 4 points. A second seatbelt-related offence within a year, such as a passenger under 16 not restrained, scores 4 plus 4 extra: 8 points for that offence, which the government says would lead to a further suspension.^[1]
• Provisional: a motorcycle helmet offence is 3 points. A second within a year scores 3 plus 3 extra, 6 points, and an "Accumulation of demerit points – notice to choose" is sent.^[1]
• Open licence: illegal phone use is 4 points. A second phone offence within a year scores 4 plus 4 extra, 8 points, and again a notice to choose is sent.^[1]

On an open licence, the two phone offences in that example add up to 12 points: enough on their own to reach the 3-year limit. Points don't reset when you move up a licence stage, and drivers on an interstate or overseas licence who go over the limit get a notice that their authority to drive in Queensland will be withdrawn.^[2]

What about double demerits in New South Wales?

If you drive south over the border, you're under NSW rules, where double demerits are a holiday-period measure. Transport for NSW applies them to speeding, illegal phone use, not wearing or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt, carrying passengers who aren't properly restrained, and riding without a helmet; points double but fines don't.^[4] It lists the periods ahead of time:^[4]

Transport for NSW also notes that school zones can be in operation during some double-demerit days, when additional penalties may apply.^[4] Periods after New Year 2027 weren't listed when we checked, so look them up before any trip.

The phone and seatbelt cameras that feed most repeat offences are explained in mobile phone and seatbelt cameras in Queensland, and alcohol limits in drink-driving limits in Queensland.