Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026

Overview

This bill makes wide-ranging changes to Queensland's road safety laws, mostly targeting drink and drug driving with a new combined offence, higher penalties, minimum court fines, and a compulsory education program for drug drivers. It also introduces on-the-spot licence suspensions for high-range speeding caught by police, lets drivers nominate the actual offending passenger for camera-detected seatbelt fines, and stops private car park operators from using the vehicle register to chase parking debts.

Who it affects

It most affects drivers — especially anyone who drinks or takes drugs before driving, or who speeds well over the limit — along with people chased over private car park fees and victims of crime needing a replacement photo ID card.

Key changes

• Creates a new combined drink-and-drug driving offence and doubles the maximum penalty for driving with a drug present from 14 to 28 penalty units, with the minimum licence ban rising from one to two months.
• Introduces minimum court-imposed fines for drink and drug driving, and requires drug driving offenders to complete an education program before getting their licence back.
• Lets police immediately suspend a licence at the roadside for speeding more than 40km/h over the limit, replacing court special hardship orders with a TMR-decided severe hardship permit.
• Allows a driver to nominate the actual offending passenger for a camera-detected seatbelt offence and removes demerit points for passenger-related seatbelt offences.
• Permanently blocks private car park operators from obtaining vehicle owners' personal details to recover parking fees, and waives photo ID card replacement fees for victims of theft, crime or data breaches.