Which state has the highest drug-driving fine?

For drug presence, first offence, WA ($1,250). The lowest is NT ($400).

Which states apply double demerits to drug-driving offences?

WA; each applies them differently (holiday periods or repeat offences).

Drug-driving Fines and Demerit Points by State (2026-27)

$400–$1,250 on-the-spot fine, lowest to highest state

Drug presence, first offence: WA highest, NT lowest

8 official offence schedules · verified between 17 July and 23 September 2026

For drug presence, first offence, the highest on-the-spot fine is WA's $1,250 and the lowest NT's $400: a spread of $850, with the highest 3.1 times the lowest.
The median across the 6 states with an on-the-spot fine is $674.50; WA, SA, NSW charge more than that.
QLD and ACT treat this as a court matter with no on-the-spot fine, so they are not ranked.
The most demerit points for drug presence, first offence are 6, in NT.
1 of the 8 states add demerit points on top for this offence in some circumstances: WA.

Every drug-driving penalty, state by state

Drug-driving: all bands in all 8 jurisdictions, 2026-27
Offence	Points	Fine	Licence consequence
New South Wales
Drug driving — drug presence (first offence)	—	$722	3-month licence suspension accompanies the penalty notice (first offence). Second/subsequent or court-elected matters go to court.
Victoria
Drug driving — drug presence (first offence)	0	$627	6-month licence suspension; must complete drug driver behaviour change program within first 3 months or licence is cancelled
Queensland
Drug driving — drug presence	—	court (max $2,417)	disqualification 1 to 9 months; 24-hour suspension after positive roadside test
Western Australia
Drug driving — drug presence (first offence)	3	$1,250	—
South Australia
Drug driving — drug presence (expiable)	4	$904	—
Tasmania
Drug driving — drug presence	0	$426	3 months disqualification
Australian Capital Territory
Drug driving (court only in the ACT)	—	court	court-imposed disqualification
Northern Territory
Drug driving — drug presence (first offence)	6	$400	no minimum disqualification for a first offence; maximum 3 months imprisonment (court)

Double demerits

State	Treatment of drug presence, first offence
NSW	Holiday periods — points double for speeding, phone, seatbelt and helmet offences (fines unchanged)
VIC	None — Victoria has no double-demerit scheme
QLD	Year-round repeat-offence doubling — a second offence in the same group (phone, seatbelt, helmet, speeding 21+ km/h) within 12 months doubles the points
WA	Yes — points double during WA holiday double-demerit periods
SA	None — SA does not use double demerit points
TAS	None — Tasmania has no double-demerit scheme
ACT	Holiday periods — points double for speeding, seatbelt, helmet and phone offences; every other point offence gets +1 point (fines unchanged)
NT	None — the NT has no double-demerit scheme

How close one offence takes you to the limit

Drug presence, first offence: points against each state's suspension limit
State	Points	Full-licence limit	Offences to reach it	Learner and provisional limits
NSW	—	13	—	P2: 7 points; P1 and learner: 4 points; good-behaviour period: 2 points.
VIC	0	12	—	Learner, P1, P2 (and overseas licence holders under 22): 5 points in any 12 months.
QLD	—	12	—	P1, P2 and learner: 4 points in 12 months.
WA	3	12	4	Learner and first-year provisional: 4 points; second-year provisional: 8 points.
SA	4	12	3	Learner and provisional: 4 points; probationary: 2 points.
TAS	0	12	—	Learner and provisional: 4 points in 12 months.
ACT	—	12	—	Provisional and learner: 4 points; probationary: 2 points.
NT	6	12	2	Learner and provisional: 5 points in any 12 months.
Full-licence points, first offence, before any double-demerit period. Learners and provisional drivers often face higher points or an automatic suspension for the same offence; see each state's row above.

Frequently asked questions

Which state has the highest drug-driving fine?: For drug presence, first offence, WA ($1,250). The lowest is NT ($400).
Which states apply double demerits to drug-driving offences?: WA — see the table above for how each applies them.

Other offences compared

Sources — figures verified between 17 July and 23 September 2026.

Standard first-offence penalties for a full-licence holder from each state's own schedule. Bands are each state's own; a like-for-like comparison uses the same conduct or the same km/h over. Information, not legal advice.