NSW Government crackdown on illegal selling of demerit points

The NSW Government has announced a task force to crack down on the selling of demerit points on Facebook Marketplace and other fraudulent activity surrounding the system.

The Demerit Point Integrity Taskforce will investigate "any gaming of the system" of nominating another driver to take demerit points for an offence, and will also review the sustainability of current penalties and suspensions.

An investigation by 9news.com.au uncovered dozens of listings for demerit points on Facebook Marketplace in 2022.

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The Taskforce will also focus on the 0.005 per cent of drivers who have racked up 20 or more points and will consider the extra measures needed to stop that from happening.

Currently, a person with 13 points would receive the same five-month suspension as someone with 20 or more points.

It comes after a French national racked up more than 200 demerit points on an electric scooter earlier this year.

"The demerit point system in NSW was designed more than 50 years ago and has been a key plank in improvements that have enhanced road safety over those five decades," Roads Minister John Graham said.

"The NSW Government has zero tolerance for anyone trying to subvert the system. There is one set of road rules and they apply equally to all."

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Acting Police Minister Tara Moriarty said that police have continued to see dangerous driving despite a rising death toll on NSW roads.

"I want to make clear there is zero tolerance for anyone who tried to subvert the demerit and penalty system,"

"This Taskforce will help ensure the penalties apply to all road users."

It will run for three months before presenting its findings to the NSW Government.