5 driving & traffic offences in NSW you may not know about

5 uncommon driving & traffic offences in NSW

Obeying the rules of the road is important if you want to avoid receiving a traffic fine or incurring demerit points in NSW, or even losing your licence.

Although most drivers in NSW are aware of the common and objectively more serious driving offences like speeding and drink driving, there are plenty of other minor offences that are waiting to trip up an unwary motorist and potentially leave them facing penalties.

We often represent clients who have been ticketed for a traffic offence the client didn’t even know existed.

Here are five traffic offences that you might not be aware of:

1. Running a yellow light

We all know that running a red light can get you in trouble, but not everyone is aware that going through a yellow light is also against the law if it can be demonstrated that you had time to stop safely. The penalty is a fine of up to $464 and the loss of three demerit points.

2. Tooting your horn at a friend

Illegal use of a warning device comes with penalties including a $337 fine. According to the law, your car horn is supposed to be used exclusively as a way of warning other traffic of your presence, and if you are caught beeping at a friend while you drive past, you can potentially be charged.

3. Waving out of the car window

It is against the law to have a part of your body outside the vehicle window or door. The fine for this offence is $349 and 3 demerit points.

4. Having your fog lights on when it’s not foggy

Have you ever turned your fog lights on at the start of a drive and then forgotten to turn them off once the fog cleared? This oversight could leave you with a fine of $116.

5. Leaving your car unlocked

The rules around leaving your car unlocked and/or windows open vary between states. In NSW, it is an offence to leave your vehicle unlocked or the keys in the ignition if you are more than three metres away from it. Penalties include fines of up to $116 for each offence.

How can we help?

Although the penalty for a minor traffic offence is usually a fine, in some cases loss of demerit points can lead to a licence suspension. Motorists aren’t always aware that it is often possible to fight traffic charges.