Driving 40 km/h in a 30 km/h zone is a significant speeding offence, incurring substantial fines, multiple demerit points, and potential licence suspension, with penalties varying by state but often resulting in fines around $800-$1,000+ (like $817 in VIC for 40-44km/h over) and immediate licence suspension in some areas for exceeding 30km/h over the limit.
Generally, magistrates will only consider imposing a ban if you've been caught driving a significant amount above the speed limit. So, according to the Band C fines in the table above: in a 30mph limit you'll need to be driving at more than 51mph, 66mph in a 40, 75mph in a 50, 85mph in a 60 and 100mph in a 70.
3 points, £100 fine, and hopefully a lesson learned.
For a 'high speed offence'—such as going 40km or more over the speed limit, your licence will be immediately suspended for six months and you cannot choose a good behaviour licence.
The "best" excuse for a speeding ticket appeal is usually a legally recognized defense, like a medical emergency, an unavoidable situation (e.g., vehicle breakdown), or proving the speed detection equipment was faulty, as these address the circumstances of the offense, not just an excuse. Common, though less reliable, excuses involve "I didn't see the sign" or "keeping up with traffic," but these often fail in court; being respectful and challenging the evidence (like radar calibration) offers a better chance.
Speed cameras trigger based on a set limit plus a tolerance, often around 10% + 2 mph (or ~3 km/h) over the posted limit, though this varies by region and camera type (fixed vs. average). While you can be caught at 1 mph over, authorities typically enforce at higher thresholds, like 4-10 mph over in a 30-40 mph zone, with some systems subtracting minor equipment error, effectively giving you a buffer.
The minimum speeding fine varies significantly by location (state/territory in Australia, for example) and how much you exceed the limit, but generally starts around $100 AUD for exceeding the limit by the smallest margin (e.g., less than 10 km/h), with some areas like Western Australia having no demerit points for this smallest infraction, while NSW might have a $93 fine for similar minor speeding, and South Australia starts at $187 with points.
You can get a speeding ticket for going any amount over the limit, but most places have a small tolerance (like 10% + 2 mph or a few km/h) before enforcement cameras consistently catch you; however, a police officer can ticket you for even 1 km/h over, especially in school zones or for higher speeds, leading to fines, demerit points, or license suspension.
A speeding fine typically arrives within days to a few weeks (around 14 days is common), but can take longer (up to a month or more) due to processing backlogs or if the car isn't registered to your address, as notices are sent to the registered keeper. Hand-issued fines happen instantly, while camera fines usually appear in the mail or digitally.
No, with 24 demerit points, you generally cannot drive, as this amount exceeds the limit for even unrestricted licenses in most Australian states (like NSW, SA, QLD), triggering a lengthy license suspension, usually around 5 months, and you'll receive a notice from your local transport authority. Demerit points lead to disqualification, not just a warning, and you'd need to serve the suspension and potentially re-test.
The threshold depends on the speed limit in force, so for a 30MPH limit the court will consider a ban for speeds over 40MPH. For a 70MPH limit the threshold is speeds above 90MPH. If the court does not order an immediate driving ban, they can impose penalty points – 6 points is common.
SP30 Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road – 3 to 6 points on your licence for 4 years. SP40 Exceeding passenger vehicle speed limit – 3 to 6 points on your licence for 4 years.
Yes, in many places like Australia, demerit points typically become inactive and stop counting towards a suspension after three years from the date of the offense, but they may stay on your driving record for longer (sometimes 4-11 years, depending on the region) and can still influence penalties for future offenses. The key is that the three-year mark is usually when they stop contributing to reaching your suspension limit, resetting your demerit count for suspension purposes.
As a general rule, if you're caught travelling in excess of 45%-50% of the speed limit you could be given an instant driving ban.
You can't know instantly if a speed camera caught you, but you'll get a notice in the mail, or you can check online via your state's government or transport authority website using your vehicle details. A flash doesn't guarantee a ticket, as cameras can test or catch other cars, but official portals allow viewing photos if you are fined, so check them for updates.
Here are possible defense themes for challenging a speed camera ticket:
The police can give you a ticket for exceeding the speed limit by just 1 mph. Speeding is speeding, whether one or 50 mph over the limit. That said, most officers will not issue citations for such minor infractions.
Camera-detected offences such as speeding or red-light breaches are usually processed within 14 days, though some cases may take longer if there is a backlog. Police-issued notices may be handed to the driver immediately at the roadside.
The minimum speeding fine varies significantly by location (state/territory in Australia, for example) and how much you exceed the limit, but generally starts around $100 AUD for exceeding the limit by the smallest margin (e.g., less than 10 km/h), with some areas like Western Australia having no demerit points for this smallest infraction, while NSW might have a $93 fine for similar minor speeding, and South Australia starts at $187 with points.
No, legally you cannot go 5 km/h over the speed limit, as any amount over the posted limit is a speeding offense, but enforcement often has a small tolerance, so you might get away with it, though it's a risk because some areas (like Victoria) are strict, and cameras can catch even slight infringements, with increasing penalties for higher speeds.
The most believable excuses are short, specific, and tied to legitimate responsibilities or unavoidable situations. Examples include sudden illness, a medical appointment that couldn't be scheduled outside work hours, urgent family needs, or car/transportation issues.