CHAPTER CONTENTS
Last updated 29 May 2026
Simple traffic offences
Infringement Notices for Traffic Offences
Nominating Another Driver
Contesting a Ticket Issued for a Traffic Offence
More serious traffic offences
Dangerous Operation of a Vehicle
Operation of a Vehicle Leading to Murder or Manslaughter
Unlicensed Driving of a Vehicle
Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident
Making Unnecessary Noise or Smoke while Operating a Vehicle
Racing Motor Vehicles on the Road
Drinking and Taking Drugs While in Charge of a Vehicle
Other traffic offence matters
Detection of Suspected Drug and Alcohol Levels
Evidence of Drug and Alcohol Consumption and Defences
Licence Restrictions Applied to Alcohol and Drug Driving Offences
Option of a Restricted Licence after Licence Suspension
Alcohol Ignition Interlocks
Demerit Points System
Vehicle Impoundment and Forfeiture Due to Traffic Offences
Bicycles and Traffic Offences
The vast majority of traffic offences are governed by the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 (Qld) and the Regulations associated with this Act, particularly the Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Road Rules) Regulation 2009 (Qld) and the Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Driver Licensing) Regulation 2010 (Qld).
These laws create simple traffic offences, which are prosecuted in the Magistrates Court. More serious offences (i.e. indictable offences involving motor vehicles) are located in the Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld) (Criminal Code). In addition, the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 (Qld) (PPR Act) deals with impoundment and forfeiture of vehicles involved in the commission of certain offences.
Many traffic offences have a maximum penalty of a certain amount of penalty units. Where a maximum fine is indicated as being a certain number of penalty units, you take the number of penalty units and multiply that number by the amount of one individual penalty unit. As at May 2026, the current penalty unit is $166.90.
When a police officer finds a person committing or reasonably suspects that a person has committed a traffic offence, they may require that person to state their name and address (this is referred to as identifying particulars), and produce any documents that are required to be kept by law (e.g. licence or registration papers). It is an offence to fail to provide the information or give false information. It is also an offence to refuse to provide identifying particulars.