• I've been caught speeding - will I lose my licence?
• When will my disqualification start?
• What about demerit points?
• Without my licence, I may lose my job - what can I do?
• I want to dispute the offence - how can I do that?
• How do I get my licence back? 

I've been caught speeding - will I lose my licence?

If your offence speed was 38 km/h or more above the speed limit, you will be disqualified from driving and your driver licence will be suspended under Tasmania's excessive speeding laws. Your period of disqualification is shown on the front of your infringement notice or on your court order.

When will my disqualification start?

Your disqualification starts 28 days after conviction. Conviction is either;

• The date you pay the infringement notice fine; or
  
• The date you enter into a Payment Variation to pay the fine by installments with the Monetary Penalties Enforcement Service; or
• The date you are deemed to be convicted, which is 28 days after the issue date of the infringement notice if you do not pay the fine.
  

Payment options are listed on the back of the infringement notice.

If you want to pay by installments, you will need to apply to the Monetary Penalties Enforcement Service (telephone 1300 366 776) for a Variation of Payment Conditions.

Once you are convicted of an excessive speeding offence, you will be issued a Notice of Disqualification that states the start and end date of your disqualification.  The disqualification cannot start earlier than the date stated on the notice.

Remember - you cannot drive from the moment your disqualification starts. Your driver licence must be returned within 21 days of your disqualification starting to any Service Tasmania shop or by posting it to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, GPO Box 1002, Hobart, TAS, 7001. Failure to return your licence is an offence that may result in a fine of up to $1000.

If you are already disqualified or subject to licence suspension, your disqualification for excessive speeding will start when you've finished serving the other periods of licence loss.  The Notice of Disqualification will state the start and end dates of your disqualification.

What about demerit points?

Your excessive speed offence will result in demerit points (shown on the front of your infringement notice). In some cases, these demerit points will take you over your allowable limit. This will result in another period of suspension for accumulation of points when your excessive speed disqualification finishes. If this is the case you will receive a Notice of Suspension in the mail.

Without my licence, I may lose my job - what can I do?

If the excessive speeding disqualification will cause you severe and unusual hardship, you may be able to apply to a magistrate for a restricted driver licence. You should investigate this option before you pay your infringement notice.

Application forms are available from Magistrates' courts throughout the State, or from the Magistrates Court website.

I want to dispute the offence - how can I do that?

If you were not the driver at the time of the offence, you will need to provide the name and address of the driver on the statutory declaration on the front of your infringement notice. This will need to be returned within 28 days to a Service Tasmania shop.

To plead not guilty to the offence, you must elect to take the matter to court. If the fine is not paid and you do not elect to take the matter to court within 28 days of service of the infringement notice, you will automatically be convicted of the offence.

How do I get my licence back?

If you aren't subject to a second period of suspension for accumulation of the demerit points from the excessive speeding offence, your licence will be posted to you at the end of your disqualification period if you are a full licence holder and you returned your licence at a Service Tasmania shop.

Queries?