Losing Your License: A Former Police Officer’s Warning

Former Police Officer and ALP Candidate Naomi Oakley Calls for Demerit Points System Overhaul

Naomi Oakley, a former police officer and electoral candidate for the Australian Labor Party (ALP), has urged for a revision of the demerit points system, citing concerns that it is too lenient and leads to easy loss of driver’s licenses.

Oakley, who served in the Victoria Police for 12 years, is currently running for the Victorian seat of Casey, encompassing areas north of Melbourne including the Yarra Ranges and extending east towards Mansfield.

In a submission to an ALP committee, Oakley highlighted the need for changes to penalties, stating that the current system unfairly penalizes Victorian drivers and makes it effortless for them to lose their driving privileges.

“The current penalty framework, along with the proliferation of speed cameras in suburban and urban areas, is placing undue pressure on everyday drivers,” Oakley’s submission emphasized.

She particularly raised concerns about the three-year demerit point accumulation window, which she believes is leading to an increase in license suspensions and subsequent instances of driving without a valid license.

Proposed Changes and Impact on Victorian Drivers

While exact figures on license suspensions in Victoria are not publicly available, data from the federal government’s roadsafety.gov.au website shows that a total of 51,150 fines for driving without a license were issued across Australia in 2024.

Of these fines, 7090 were issued in Victoria, ranking the state third behind Queensland (25,135) and New South Wales (9355).

Victoria ranks fifth among Australian states and territories in terms of fines for unlicensed driving per 10,000 license holders, with a rate of 13. This places it behind Queensland (60), South Australia (49), the Northern Territory (26), and New South Wales (15).

To address the issue of unlicensed drivers, Oakley has proposed an adjustment to the demerit points reset timeframe, suggesting that it should occur after two years instead of three. She believes that this change would provide a more balanced approach for minor or occasional offenses, preventing harsh penalties for otherwise responsible drivers.

“Reducing the demerit point window from three years to two years will ensure road safety while creating a fairer, more equitable system that promotes compliance and community welfare,” Oakley stated in her submission.

Impact of Speed Cameras and Speed Limit Changes

Oakley also highlighted the impact of speed cameras and alterations to speed limits in contributing to the rise in infringements.

“Since the pandemic, there has been a noticeable increase in speed cameras, including in residential and urban areas where speeding was not previously a significant issue,” the submission noted.

She pointed out that reductions in urban speed limits, such as from 40km/h to 30km/h, have exacerbated the consequences of minor speed violations.

In 2024, approximately 83.6% of the 3.3 million speeding fines issued nationwide came from speed cameras, indicating a significant reliance on automated enforcement measures.

Furthermore, mobile phone detection cameras were responsible for 87.6% of the 330,926 fines issued for phone use violations, with the number of fines more than tripling since 2019.

The submission also highlighted that camera-enforced fines accounted for the same proportion of the 183,315 seatbelt infractions recorded in 2024, showing a significant increase in penalties issued.

Revenue Generation and Road Safety Concerns

Notably, the Queensland state government reported a record revenue of nearly $465 million from fines imposed on motorists in the 2023-2024 financial year. This marked a substantial increase from $171.2 million collected between 2019-2020, despite a decrease in the number of fines issued during that period.

These developments underscore the ongoing debates around road safety, enforcement measures, and the impact of penalties on driver behavior.

As concerns persist regarding the fairness and effectiveness of the demerit points system, Oakley’s advocacy for reforms aims to strike a balance between maintaining road safety and ensuring a just and equitable approach to penalties.

Conclusion

Naomi Oakley’s call for a review of the demerit points system and her proposals for changes to penalties reflect a broader discourse on road safety, compliance, and the role of enforcement measures in shaping driver behavior.

By advocating for a more balanced and responsive approach to demerit points, Oakley seeks to address concerns around license suspensions and the impact of penalties on Victorian drivers.

As debates continue on the efficacy of speed cameras, speed limit changes, and the enforcement of road regulations, Oakley’s submissions add to the ongoing discussions on road safety and the need for a comprehensive and fair approach to penalties and enforcement.