Australia News on Dec. 11th, 2018

I am a P1 driver in Sydney. Recently I got pulled over for going 10 km/h over the speed limit in the Northern Sydney region by a cop using a radar gun and was informed by him that I would receive a ~$200 fine and a three month suspension. It sucked but it undoubtedly impacted on my driving and has made me much more aware of my speed and the speed zones (the one I was in had changed a month prior from a 70km to 60km zone).

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The thing I find weird about the speeding law and what I couldn't find online clearly stated was that in my license being suspended for 3 months, the 4 demerit points which I lost due to the fine (which I knew was the case) would lead to another 3 month suspension - essentially meaning that it was never the '3 months' I was told but 6 months. On top of this, I was told that I would have to do an additional 6 months wait following the end of my 6 month suspension until I can go for my Greens. At the time of writing this I would have been eligible for my greens a week ago however apparently since I was fined before I was eligible it means I have to sit out that extra 6 month period. My suspension starts on 01 jan 2019 which means that I can go for my greens at the earliest at the start of 2020.

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I know when a P plater comes on here to rant or ask something the general response is 'well you did it, shouldn't have done x and you wouldn't have to deal with y. Get over it.' But I think it's ridiculous that I am fined the same as a P1 going 45 km/h over or a P1 drink driving. I would be less resentful of this law if I was explicitly told that I would get 6 months, and have to renew my license, and have to wait another 6 months before I can go for my greens because I lost my demerit points. I know now that losing all your demerit points counts as a 3 month suspension but since you can lose all your demerit points by going 5 km/h over, it all seems pretty fucked.

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Would like to hear your thoughts on this.