Northern Territory
Schedule of Helmet Offences and Penalties

The historical penalty values have not been researched


2000 to 2016

There are
4 offences.

9a - Rule 270(1), 270(2)

9b - Rule 270(1)(a), 270(2)

9c - Rule 270(2)

9d - Rule 270(1)

Ride without wearing helmet (passenger or driver)

Ride without helmet securely fastened (passenger or driver)

Carry pillion or sidecar passenger not wearing helmet

Wear helmet not approved or deteriorated

Helmet offences are not demerit point offences.

 
 
Year
9a
9b
9c
9d
1960-69
 
 
 
 
1970-79
 
 
 
 
1980-89
 
 
 
 
1990-99
 
 
 
 
2000-04
$100
$80
$80
$60
2005-09
$100
$80
$80
$60
2010-14
$100
$80
$80
$60
2015
 
 
 
 
2016
 
 
 
 
2017
 
 
 
 
2018
 
 
 
 

Unlike other jurisdictions the NT fines and demerit points are in the Traffic Regulations

In other jurisdictions offence descriptions and meanings have become distorted over time. Originally the descriptions and details were included in the road rules or traffic acts and so the meanings were clear.

The volume of offences and the number of officials who needed access to the information increased and so the penalties and descriptions were moved to separate legislation and the practice of using "short descriptions" in the penalty legislation began.

This now means the infringement notices as issued may mean other than what they state. The offence and penalty legislation have clauses which state in effect that the short description means the same as the long description contained in the regulations.


Notes

Motorcycle helmet offences are not a category in the Australian Bureau of Statistics system unlike bicycle helmets.

NT, unlike other jurisdictions, recognise separate proscribed offences with differing levels of penalty are needed but have not realised that visor offences should be a defect notice rather than a fine as per car windscreen tinting.

Use of the defect system means the ACCC can be alerted to retailers selling visors not complying to the standards.

1/ Failing to wear any helmet
2/ Helmet not of an approved standard
3/ Helmet modified/damaged