An investigation has exposed a thriving black market in Australia where motorists are paying hundreds of dollars to avoid demerit points and traffic fines, allowing some drivers to remain on the road despite potentially exceeding their licence limits. The ABC’s 7.30 program has uncovered several schemes operating through social media, with individuals offering to take responsibility for traffic offences in exchange for cash.

The practice takes advantage of a loophole in Australia’s traffic infringement system, which allows registered vehicle owners to nominate another driver if they weren’t behind the wheel when an offence occurred. While the nomination process is legitimate, deliberately providing false information to transfer fines and demerit points is illegal.

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According to the ABC investigation, numerous Facebook groups and websites openly advertise services promising to remove demerit points, with some operators charging as little as $50 per point, plus the cost of the original fine.

During the investigation, ABC journalists contacted several operators, some of whom claimed they could transfer infringements within minutes and assured potential customers there was no risk of prosecution. One website even reportedly mimicked the appearance of the official Service NSW portal, offering to clear a $434 fine and three demerit points for $500.

Although the schemes operate across Australia, Queensland was identified as a particular area of concern. In one case currently before the courts, a 27-year-old woman from Woodridge allegedly accumulated an extraordinary 1150 demerit points and more than $600,000 in fines.

Police allege she operated a fraudulent demerit point scheme for at least four years, with 1266 traffic infringements transferred into her name. For context, Queensland motorists risk having their licence suspended after accumulating 12 demerit points within three years.

Another case involved a man who allegedly collected more than $100,000 by offering to take responsibility for other motorists’ offences. He was found to have fraudulently transferred hundreds of demerit points, including nominating three unsuspecting individuals for approximately $93,000 worth of fines. He was sentenced to three years in prison in June after pleading guilty to several offences, including fraud and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Legal experts have also warned that both those selling demerit point transfers and motorists knowingly using the services could face criminal prosecution, including imprisonment.