A penalty point system, also known as a demerit point system, is a method used by licensing authorities to monitor and regulate driver behavior. Under such systems, an individual's driver's license accumulates demerit points for traffic offenses (or other infringements committed whilst driving) which last for a set period. The structure and administration of these systems vary between jurisdictions and the authorities enforcing them.

In most cases, the accumulation of points can lead to fines, disqualification, suspension, re-evaluation or revocation of a driver's license. Points are typically recorded by the relevant driver licensing authority, police force, or other authorizing body and may be added or removed in line with jurisdiction-specific rules.

Description In jurisdictions that use a point system, the police or licensing authorities maintain records of the demerit points issued to each driver. Traffic offenses, such as speeding or disobeying traffic signals, are assigned a designated amount of points. When a driver is found guilty of an offense, the corresponding points are added to their driving record. When a driver's total point number exceeds the prescribed threshold, they may face additional penalties, be required to attend safety or driver-training courses, undergo re-examination, or have their license suspended or revoked.

In some jurisdictions, a subtracting point system is utilized, when drivers begin with a set number of points that are deducted following traffic offenses. The threshold for penalties may vary according to factors such as the driver's experience level, previous record, age, or other circumstances. Generally, it is common for younger or less experienced motorists to be subject to lower thresholds.

In certain systems, points may also be applied if a driver is deemed substantially at fault in a traffic collision. Demerit points can typically be removed through the passage of time without further offenses, or through the successful completion of approved driver-training or traffic-safety courses.

Major traffic offenses, such as hit-and-run or drunk driving, are often handled outside of the point system. Such offenses often carry a mandatory suspension of driving privileges and may incur penalties including imprisonment.

Jurisdictions that use a point system Australia Traffic laws are the responsibility of the Australian state and territory governments. Demerit points schemes have been adopted by all states and territories, and road authorities share information about interstate offenses.

In all states, drivers holding a full, unrestricted license will be disqualified from driving after accumulating 12 demerit points or more within a three-year period, except in New South Wales, where drivers are allowed 13 points in a three-year period. Those who can prove they are professional drivers are allowed an additional point. The license suspension period is three months, plus one further month for every extra four points beyond the threshold, with a cap in most states of five months (for 8 points or more over the threshold; e.g. 20 points or more on a full license). As an alternative to accepting immediate suspension, a driver can apply for a "good behavior" period of 12 months. In most states, drivers under a good behavior period who accumulate one or two further points (except in Victoria, which does not allow any further offenses) have their license suspended for double the original period. Most states also provide for immediate suspension of a license, instead of or in addition to demerit points, in certain extreme circumstances. These include offenses for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or other drugs, or for greatly excessive speed.

New South Wales In New South Wales, provisional license holders are allowed to incur different numbers of points, depending on their license class, before their license is suspended for three months. Holders of a P-1 license, which lasts 12–18 months (which can be renewed), can incur 4 points, and P-2 license holders can incur 7 points in a 24- to 30-month period (which can be renewed). Speeding offenses for provisional license holders incur 4 points, meaning that P-1 holders will be suspended after one speeding offence of any speed. During holiday periods, double demerit points apply for speeding, seat-belt and helmet-related offenses.

Offenses in school zones attract more points than in other areas. Automatic suspensions apply for all drink- and drug-driving offences, as well as speeding by more than 30 km/h. The New South Wales Government has established a task-force to investigate and prevent the illegal sale of demerit points on Facebook Marketplace.

Victoria

Demerit points Victoria introduced a demerit points system in 1970. Learner and probationary drivers who accumulate five or more points within 12 months must either accept a three-month license suspension or enter a 12-month "good behavior" bond. Any further point during the bond period results in a six-month suspension. Fully licensed drivers may accumulate up to 12 points over three years and are offered the same bond option.

Traffic offenses and their associated points are listed in Schedule 3 of the Road Safety (Drivers) Regulations 2009.

Drunk driving Drunk-driving offenses can result in immediate license cancellation for fully licensed drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.10 or higher, and for learner or probationary drivers with a BAC of 0.07 or higher.

Since 30 April 2018, all drunk-driving convictions result in license suspension, and re-licensing requires the installation of an alcohol interlock device. These requirements also apply to drivers who refuse a breath or blood test and to those who fail a roadside drug test.

Speeding offences Drivers face an automatic license suspension of at least three months for travelling more than 25 km/h over the speed limit or at any speed above 130 km/h. Since 1 November 2018, excessive speeding offenses no longer attract demerit points and instead result in immediate suspension.

From 12 November 2020, immediate suspension and vehicle impounding apply for extreme speeding offenses, including speeds 45 km/h or more over the limit or 145 km/h or more in a 110 km/h zone. Similar powers apply to serious offenses where a vehicle is used in a manner that causes death or injury.

Double demerit points Unlike some other states, Victoria does not apply double demerit point periods

South Australia In South Australia, if a traffic offense is committed against the Road Traffic Act 1961 or the Australian Road Rules 1999, points may be incurred against a driver's license. The number of points incurred depends on the offense and how likely it is to cause a crash. If 12 or more points are accumulated in any 3-year period, a driver will be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver's license or permit. Each 3-year period is calculated based on the dates that offense were committed.

If a driver accumulates: 12 to 15 points, a driver loses their permission to drive for 3 months. 16 to 20 points, a driver loses their permission to drive for 4 months. 20 points or more, a driver loses their permission to drive for 5 months.

Demerit points are incurred whether the offence is committed in South Australia or interstate.

Northern Territory A demerit points scheme was introduced into the Northern Territory on 1 September 2007. Offenses that accrue points include speeding, failing to obey a red traffic light or level crossing signal, failing to wear a seat-belt, drunk driving, using a mobile phone, failure to display L or P plates, street racing, burnouts and causing damage. Learner and provisional drivers are subject to suspension for accumulating 5 points or more over a 12-month period. The 3-year limit of 12 points still applies.

Queensland In Queensland, provisional or learner drivers may accumulate up to 4 demerit points in a one-year period, and open license holders 12 demerit points in a three-year period, before receiving a sanction. A driver who exceeds their point threshold may choose between a license suspension for a period of 3 months, or to enter into a 12-month good driving behavior bond. If a driver incurs more than one point while subject to a good driving behavior bond, their license is suspended for a period of 6 months.

Unlike in some other states, double demerit points apply all year round in Queensland for specific offenses, where a second or subsequent same offense is committed within 12 months of the earlier offense – for example, a driver with a full/open license caught using a phone while driving would receive 4 demerit points for the first offense; if caught for the same offense within 12 months of committing the first, they would accrue a further 8 demerit points (4x for the offense, 4x double), resulting in their demerit point limit being reached.

Europe Bulgaria Bulgaria has implemented a penalty point system with a total of 34 points, introduced in 1999. In 2017, this was increased to 39 points.

Denmark

Denmark has a penalty point system that penalizes drivers with a klip ("cut/stamp") for certain traffic violations. The term klip refers to a klippekort ("punch card ticket"). If a driver with a non-probationary license accumulates three penalty points, then police conditionally suspend the driver's license. To get a new license, suspended drivers must pass both written and practical drivers examinations. Drivers who have been suspended and first-time drivers must avoid collecting two penalty points for a three-year probationary period; if the driver has not accumulated any penalty points, then the driver is allowed an extra penalty point so they can have three maximum. Penalty points are deleted from the police database three years after they were assessed. Police can also unconditionally ban people from driving.

France

France uses a subtracting points system () for drivers, in use since 1992. Drivers are allotted a balance of twelve points associated with their driver's license (), (six points for new permits) as a baseline balance to start out with. As they commit infractions of the , they may accumulate a punishment in the form of removal of one or more points, depending on the seriousness of the infraction. Maximum removal of points for one event is six points, eight if multiple infractions are involved.

The theory behind it, is that by giving each driver an initial point balance (} at the outset, they will be motivated to keep it by driving safely so as not to lose their initial capital of points allotted to them. When drivers receive their first permit, they enter into a probationary period of three years. The first year, then are allotted six points. They accrue two more points for each full year of driving without an infraction. After the third year, probation is over, and they will have accumulated twelve points if there has been no infraction.

If an infraction is committed during the probationary period, points accrual is capped until the end of probation. Any lost points caused by the infraction may be recovered after six months of good driving conduct, but stops at the cap. The driving permit remains valid as long as points remain on the license. If all points are lost, the license becomes invalid, and the driver must wait six months and then reapply for a driver's license after passing medical and psychological tests, and taking the written test again. If the license becomes invalid during the probationary period, the candidate must pass written and driving test. If the candidate succeeds in obtaining their license again, they enter the three-year probationary period once again. After three years of no lost points, the point balance rises to twelve points again. If points are lost, there are some methods of recovering them sooner, such as by attending a voluntary driver education workshop.

Germany