Since February 2015, drivers who repeatedly exceed their demerit points allowance will be subject to increased traffic offender penalties, with the introduction of a new program which takes aim at serious and repeat offenders. This program has severe consequences for drivers who exceed their demerit points allowance more than once.

If you are a provisional licence holder and you exceed your demerit points twice in a five-year period, you must re-sit and pass the Driver Knowledge Test (the test you sit when you get a Learner’s licence).

If you are an unrestricted licence holder, further penalties are involved. As well as re-sitting the Driver Knowledge Test, you must also complete a driver’s education course from a certified course provider, such as the SAVE Traffic Offender’s Program. A certificate of completion of this course must be provided to the RMS before you will be able to re-sit the above test.

The Increased Traffic Offender Penalties program also focuses on drink driving offences. Drivers who are convicted of two or more drink driving offences within a five-year period will also be required to pass the Driver Knowledge Test, focusing on the impact of drink driving.

For anyone seeking advice about how these changes might affect you, do not hesitate to contact Younes + Espiner Lawyers on (02) 9696 1361.