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Demerit points

Penalty points (demerits) are allocated for a range of driving offences. The issue of demerit points is a national initiative to encourage safe and responsible driving. Find out about the issue of demerit points in Western Australia.

Index

• Demerit point check (online)
• Check if your driver's licence has been suspended
• Demerit point hotline
• Demerit points and novice drivers
• Double or Nothing option (if you have accrued 12 or more demerit points)
• Double or Nothing option - breach of good behaviour period
• Good behaviour period election (online)
• How to pay a fine
• What are demerit points?

Demerit point check (online)

Demerit points are issued by the WA Police or an authorised officer for motoring offences. The points can vary anywhere from one to six points depending on the type of offence, except during long weekends and holiday seasons when the allocated demerit points for the offence will be double.

Check if your driver's licence has been suspended

Visit the Department of the Attorney General’s online licence suspension check to see if your licence is suspended due to the non-payment of any fines you have incurred.

Attorney General’s online licence suspension check

Demerit point hotline

• 1300 720 111

Demerit points and novice drivers

Learn about graduated demerit points for novice drivers.

Double or Nothing option (if you have accrued 12 or more demerit points)

'Double or Nothing' is an option where eligible drivers who have accrued 12 or more demerit points can elect once they have been served an Excessive Demerit Points Notice. By electing the Double or Nothing option a driver can continue to drive on a 12 month Good Behaviour Period.

However, if a driver accrues more than one demerit point in the 12 month Good Behaviour Period or if they commit an offence which results in a disqualification period, they will be disqualified for double the original disqualification period.

By electing to undertake the Double or Nothing option you will not be disqualified from driving, which would normally happen when accruing 12 or more demerit points. Although you can continue to drive, for the next 12 months you must not commit any further driving offences.

Important notes:

• The Double or Nothing option replaces the disqualification period associated with the demerit points you have accrued.
• The Double or Nothing (Good Behaviour Period) lasts for 12 months.
• Committing a driving offence that breaches the Good Behaviour Period will result in a disqualification period which is double the original disqualification you received.
• You have 21 days from when you are served the Excessive Demerit Points Notice to elect to continue to drive by taking the Double or Nothing option. Once this deadline has lapsed, you cannot elect to take the Double or Nothing option.
• You can no longer apply for an Extraordinary Licence if you have been disqualified due to excessive demerit points. If you are currently driving on an Extraordinary Licence and you get a subsequent demerit point disqualification you can still elect the Double or Nothing option. However, the Good Behaviour Period will be postponed until the disqualification period related to your Extraordinary Licence has ended.

To find out more, read the fact sheet below or see our frequently asked questions.

Demerit points - double or nothing law (fact sheet)	KB
Proof of identity for your initial WA driver’s licence application	KB

Double or Nothing option - breach of good behaviour period

What happens if I breach the good behaviour period?

If you breach the conditions of a good behaviour period a "Breach of Good Behaviour Period" notice will be issued to you disqualifying you from holding or obtaining a driver's licence for double the disqualification period that was stated on the original Excessive Demerit Points Notice

What constitutes a breach of the good behaviour period?

A breach of the good behaviour period will occur if you commit:

• an offence for which 2 or more demerit points can be recorded under Part VIA of the Road Traffic Act 1974;
• offences for which 2 or more demerit points can be recorded under Part VIA of the Road Traffic Act 1974;
• an offence for which a court is required by law to disqualify you from holding or obtaining a driver's licence; or
• an offence, the conviction of which results in you being disqualified by operation of the Road Traffic Act 1974 from holding or obtaining a driver's licence.

How is a breach of good behaviour period disqualification activated?

When a person commits any of the offences listed above a "Breach of Good Behaviour Period" notice will be generated.

When does the disqualification take effect?

Once a "Disqualification Notice for Breach of good behaviour period" notice has been personally served, the disqualification period will take effect:

• the day immediately after the date of service of the notice;
• immediately on the termination of any period of disqualification (including fines suspension) that the person may be subject to – whichever is the latter.
• immediately on completion of a second active Good Behaviour Period.

Any Court imposed disqualification period related to an offence committed during a Good Behaviour Period will commence immediately upon conviction of the offence.

You cannot apply for the grant of an extraordinary licence if the disqualification is the result of an Excessive Demerit Points Notice or breach of a good behaviour period.

Good behaviour period election (online)

You will receive a copy of the application form with your Excessive Demerit Point Notice, or you can notify us online via our Good behaviour period election form.

A paper copy of the Good behaviour form may also be submitted at a Driver and Vehicle Services Centre or via the mail by posting it to:

Department of Transport
GPO Box 8090
PERTH BC WA 6849

How to pay a fine

Visit the Infringements section on the WA Police website for more information about payment, non-payment fees and contesting infringements.

WA Police website

What are demerit points?

Demerit points are penalties that are allocated for a range of driving offences.

Demerit points are issued by the WA Police or an authorised officer for motoring offences. The points can vary anywhere from one to six points depending on the type of offence, except during long weekends and holiday seasons when the allocated demerit points for the offence will be double.