What are the penalties?
Speeding
Speeding fines increase progressively from $30 for speeds less than 10km/h over the limit, to a maximum fine of $630 for speeds up to 50km/h over the limit.
If your speed is more than 50km/h over the limit you could be charged with careless, dangerous or reckless driving, and at more than 40km/h above the speed limit you could also get a 28-day licence suspension.
The following table shows some of the penalties for driving offences related to alcohol and drugs.
Penalties
Fines
The maximum fine for exceeding a speed limit is $1000, which applies to serious speeding offences that are dealt with in court. Most speeding offences are subject to infringement fees (instant fines), which range from $30 for driving up to 10 km/h over the limit to $630 for driving between 46 and 50 km/h over the limit.
Driver licence suspension
From 16 January 2006, immediate 28-day licence suspension applies if you're caught travelling more than 40 km/h over the permanent posted speed limit, or more than 50 km/h over a posted temporary, holiday or variable speed limit.
- An example of a temporary speed limit is a speed restriction through road works.
- An example of a holiday speed limit is a lowered speed limit through a popular holiday destination (eg a beach resort) during a busy holiday period.
- An example of a variable speed limit is a lowered speed limit in a school zone at times when children are arriving at or leaving school.
Demerit points
Demerit points are given for all speeding infringements other than speed camera offences. If you get a total of 100 or more within two years, you'll be suspended from driving for three months.
| Speed | Demerit points |
|---|---|
| Exceeding the speed limit by up to 10 km/h |
10
|
| Exceeding the speed limit by 11-20 km/h |
20
|
| Exceeding the speed limit by 21-30 km/h |
35
|
| Exceeding the speed limit by 31-35 km/h |
40
|
| Exceeding the speed limit by 36 km/h or more |
50
|
Some facts about speed cameras
The number of crashes is substantially reduced when speed cameras are used. A study of crash data in the 20 months following the introduction of speed cameras in New Zealand in 1993 found a 23 percent reduction in fatal and serious crashes at urban speed camera sites and an 11 percent reduction in fatal and serious crashes at rural speed camera sites.
International experience shows that speed cameras are a highly cost-effective speed management tool. This means they save a lot of lives for the cost of putting them in place and operating them.
Court-imposed penalties for alcohol/drugs offences
| Offence | Amount of alcohol | Penalty | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood | Breath | Prison | Fine |
Disqualification or suspension of licence |
||
| You kill or injure someone when driving after drinking too much or taking drugs | More than 80 mg per 100 ml | More than 400 mcg per litre | Up to five years | Up to $20,000 |
First or second offence one year or more, third or subsequent offence more than one year |
|
| You drive, or try to drive, after drinking too much or taking drugs and you are aged 20 years or over | More than 80 mg per 100 ml | More than 400 mcg per litre | First and second offences | |||
| Up to three months | Up to $4,500 | Six months or more | ||||
| Third and subsequent offences | ||||||
| Up to two years | Up to $6,000 | More than one year | ||||
| You drive, or try to drive, after drinking too much or taking drugs and you are aged under 20 years | More than 30mg per 100 ml | More than 150 mcg per litre | Up to three months | Up to $2,250 | Three months or more | |
| You refuse to give blood when asked by a police officer, doctor or approved person | First and second offence | |||||
| Up to three months | Up to $4,500 | Six months or more | ||||
| Third and subsequent offences | ||||||
| Up to two years | Up to $6,000 | More than one year | ||||
| You refuse to go with a police officer for an evidential breath test or blood test | Up to $4,500 | As decided by the court | ||||
| You are in charge of a vehicle after drinking too much or taking drugs and you do not hand over the keys when asked by a police officer | Up to $10,000 | |||||
On-the-spot (roadside) licence suspension
Your licence will be suspended on the spot if you refuse to have a blood test or if, following an evidential breath or blood test, you are found to have:
- more than 130 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, or
- more than 650 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.
Your licence will be suspended for 28 days and you will still have to face court-imposed penalties.
Repeat offences
The penalties described above may be increased substantially for repeat offences.
In addition, if you commit two alcohol-related offences within a five-year period and one of those offences involves:
- refusing to go with a police officer
- refusing to give a breath or blood sample
- driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- having a breath–alcohol level above 1000 micrograms
- having a blood–alcohol level above 200 milligrams per 100 millilitres
then you will be:
- disqualified from driving for an indefinite period, and
- required to attend an approved alcohol assessment centre.
Gift certificates or vouchers available
How do our students fare? Most people who take our Defensive Driving Course or Package lessons pass their driver's license test:
| Type of Licence | Pass Rate |
|---|---|
| Full standard | 100% |
| Overseas conversion | 99% |
| Restricted license | 99% |
| Heavy vehicle | 100% |
| Motorbike | 100% |
Trucks and Endorsements courses
Experienced driver refresher course
•New Driving age for Younger Driver
•Getting your motorcycle licence
•Getting you Passenger (P) Endorsement
•Getting your Instructor (I) endorsement
•Getting your vehicle Recovery (V) endorsement