CHAPTER CONTENTS

Last updated 15 February 2019. This chapter is currently under review.

click to download a pdf of this chapterSimple 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). In addition, the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 (Qld) 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 July 2018, the current penalty unit is $130.55.  Throughout this chapter, we have tried to provide the penalty unit and the dollar value of the maximum fine.

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, 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.