We frequently get questions from Queensland members about traffic demerit points and their impact on firearms licences.
As it happens, we have recently obtained, via Right To Information laws, Weapons Licensing’s policies regarding traffic offences and how they impact firearms licences – which were updated in January this year.
Those policies clearly state that accumulating 30 demerit points in five years for speeding offences, using a mobile phone while driving offences, or offences deemed “Life Endangering” (such as reckless driving) will result in a Firearms Licence rejection or renewal refusal on public interest grounds.
Being caught drink-driving, drug driving, or driving while unlicensed (among other things) three times in five years will also result in a licence rejection or renewal refusal on public interest grounds. Keep in mind that accumulating 12 demerit points results in suspension of a driver’s licence, so accumulating 30 demerit points in 5 years will likely have involved multiple driver’s licence suspensions.
Also note that only “Life Endangering Offences” (as defined by Queensland Transport) or Mobile Phone Use offence demerit points count for the purpose of firearms licence issues – demerit points for matters such as minor vehicle roadworthy issues or failing to keep left are not supposed to count for firearms licence “fit and proper person” purposes.
However: You MUST declare on your licence application or renewal if you have EVER been formally charged with any offence that resulted in a Court appearance – regardless of the outcome or when it happened. Failure to do so may lead to rejection for making “false and misleading statements”.
The short version: Getting caught speeding once or twice will NOT automatically cause you to lose your firearms licence, or even trigger a “show cause” notice per WLG’s own policies. That’s not a green light to speed or otherwise break the traffic laws, however – but should at least give people the facts to work for, rather than rumours or fuddlore.
