14.1 Demerit Points, Speeding and Other Offences
Key Takeaways
A full licence is liable to demerit suspension at 12 or more points within three years; learner or provisional liability begins at four within 12 months.
For a qualifying full-licence good-behaviour period of 12 months, more than one further demerit point leads to twice the original suspension period.
Serious speeding and alcohol or drug offences have separate consequences; vehicle speed-limiter duties also apply independently.
Licence consequences are wider than the trip
Breaking traffic law can lead to fines, demerit points, suspension, disqualification, cancellation or, for serious offences, criminal penalties. Heavy vehicle work makes those consequences particularly significant because losing the right to drive can prevent completion of duties. A valid employment contract does not authorise driving while suspended or disqualified.
The consequence depends on the offence, actual reading or conduct, previous history and statutory process. Do not invent one fixed penalty for every alcohol test, drug test or mechanical defect. Current offence schedules and legislation provide the relevant amounts and procedures. Fine values can change, so a knowledge guide should not preserve an old dollar table as if it were permanent.
Demerit liability
A full licence is liable to suspension when 12 or more demerit points are recorded for offences within a period of three years or less. A learner or provisional licence is liable at four or more points within 12 months. A heavy vehicle class upgrade does not turn a provisional licence into a full licence or create a separate pool of points for truck driving.
| Licence category and points | General suspension reference |
|---|---|
| Full: 12–15 points | Three months |
| Full: 16–19 points | Four months |
| Full: 20 or more | Five months |
| Learner/provisional: 4–15 points | Three months |
| Learner/provisional: 16–19 points | Four months |
| Learner/provisional: 20 or more | Five months |
Read the actual suspension notice, including commencement and any available option. Do not assume points disappear merely because the driver has changed class, moved interstate or paid a fine. The law governs how points contributing to a suspension or undertaking are treated, and new offences can still have consequences.
Period of Good Behaviour
A qualifying full licence holder facing demerit suspension can choose a Period of Good Behaviour for 12 months through the required process. It is not the ordinary option for a learner or provisional licence. If more than one demerit point is recorded during the period, the suspension is twice the original period.
For example, if the original proposed suspension was three months, breaching the good-behaviour condition produces six months under that rule. One point and two points are different: the trigger is more than one, not automatically any single point. The option does not make offences harmless; fines and other consequences can still apply.
Serious speeding
Tasmania has additional disqualification consequences for serious speeding beginning at 38 km/h above the applicable limit. Under section 19A’s infringement-conviction process, the period is three months for 38 km/h or more but less than 45 km/h above the limit, and four months for 45 km/h or more. Court proceedings have their own provisions, including the specified minimums and special-reasons exception. Exactly 45 belongs in the higher band. Read the actual offence and notice rather than assume every preliminary allegation starts an identical immediate suspension.
The applicable limit is the one governing the driver and vehicle at that place. A truck limited to 100 km/h in a 110 zone is not assessed as if its own limit were 110. A learner’s 90 km/h cap also matters. A limiter malfunction does not remove the driver’s speed obligation; the driver must control the vehicle and arrange repair.
Serious-speeding disqualification and demerit suspension can both arise from the same conduct through their separate processes. Do not assume serving one automatically eliminates the other. Read the authority’s notices and do not drive until the lawful entitlement has been restored.
Alcohol and drug offences
Zero-alcohol prescribed-vehicle rules, driving under the influence, drug presence and testing compliance each have their own legal elements. A lawful-use exception relevant to drug presence does not permit impairment. Refusal of an authorised test can also be an offence. Penalties and immediate disqualification depend on the statutory conditions; a positive preliminary screening should not be described as the same final outcome in every case.
The practical prevention is to start fit, comply with zero alcohol where required, use medicines safely and follow lawful testing directions. If a licence condition or enforcement notice prohibits driving, an operator’s request to finish a delivery does not override it. Arrange another driver or recovery.
Speed-limiter and vehicle offences
A vehicle required to be speed limited can create operator as well as driver obligations. Tampering, non-compliant equipment and overspeed can have heavy vehicle law consequences. A driver should report a malfunction and stop unsafe use rather than remove a fuse or alter a setting. Maintaining equipment and obeying speed limits are complementary duties.
Loading, fatigue, records and roadworthiness breaches can also attract penalties. The fact that an unsafe practice has not yet caused a crash does not establish legality. Communicate problems early and correct them before departure rather than rely on avoiding an inspection.
Key decisions
Check the applicable licence category and legal limit, distinguish separate penalty processes and obey the actual notice. A professional driving duty requires a current lawful entitlement throughout the trip.
Official sources
Transport Services demerit points; Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999; Alcohol and Drugs Act. Sources checked 10 October 2026.
A full-licence driver chooses a 12-month good-behaviour period instead of a three-month demerit suspension, then records two further points. What is the consequence under that rule?
No consequence until 12 more points accrue
A one-month suspension
A six-month suspension, twice the original period
The heavy vehicle class alone is removed
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.