Speeding Offences | NSW

The Essentials: Speeding 

• Speeding offences are set by the NSW Road Rules and penalty schemes. Most lower-end matters are dealt with by penalty notice + demerit points; serious speeding can go to court with heavier penalties. 
• “Serious speeding” includes 30–45 km/h over and 45+ km/h over the limit (police can suspend your licence at the roadside in certain cases). 

How are speeding matters dealt with?

• Under 30 km/h over: usually a penalty notice (fine + demerit points). You can pay, seek a review, nominate another driver (if not you), or elect court. 
• 30–45 km/h over / 45+ km/h over: treated as serious speeding. Expect suspension (police or court) and higher penalties if convicted. 
• If you elect court, the fine is replaced by a Court Attendance Notice and the court decides outcome (including the option of no conviction in appropriate cases).

Learner & Provisional drivers

• P1 max 90 km/h; P2 max 100 km/h (or lower where signed). Any speeding for L/P drivers is serious and often brings immediate suspension and penalties. 
• P drivers who speed 30+ km/h over face immediate suspension; P1 speeding will usually exceed the demerit cap, triggering licence loss.

What must police prove?

That you drove a motor vehicle and exceeded the applicable speed limit. Evidence may include camera data, LIDAR/radar readings, and police observations. (Your references present this element simply and directly.)

What is “speeding” in NSW?

Driving above the signed limit. Cameras and police detect speeding; for cameras, the images record location, time, speed and vehicle details.

Licence suspension & disqualification

• Police may suspend on the spot for 45+ km/h over (and certain other serious cases). The court can also disqualify you at sentence. 
• If you hit your demerit cap, Transport for NSW may impose a separate suspension on top of any court orders. 
• You can appeal a police suspension to the Local Court. 

School zones & double demerits

• School zones have higher penalties and more demerit points. 
• Double demerits apply on set holiday/long-weekend periods; check dates before you drive. 

Camera notices: your options

• Request a review (attach context/evidence). 
• Nominate the driver if it was not you (required for camera offences if someone else was driving). 
• Elect court to contest the allegation or seek a different outcome (e.g., non-conviction)—note you cannot undo a court election once accepted. 

Defences & how we challenge

• Identification / not driving (who was driving; nomination issues).
• Speed reading reliability (device calibration/operation, angles, beam spread, interference).
• Signage / honest & reasonable mistake (obscured signs, temporary works).
• Necessity/duress in rare situations.
  These align with both references; we test the brief, request records, and use expert evidence where justified.