Handheld phone demerit points
A Tier-A offence guide built from the pinned Schedule 3 rows — not a synonym essay about every charge code on the site.
Verify the code on your notice. Demerit enforcement (ss 24–28) not proclaimed as of August 2026. Educational only.
Quick answer
Two closely related Schedule 3 infringements commonly searched as “phone while driving” both carry 3 demerit points for a natural person in column 6:
| Code | Points | Classification | Wording (Schedule 3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5085 | 3 | infringement | Operated a vehicle while a cellular or mobile telephone was held in one or both hands or with any other part of the body |
| 5086 | 3 | infringement | Used a cellular or mobile telephone or any other communication device that was not affixed to the vehicle or was not part of the fixture in the vehicle |
Plain-language reading
5085 targets holding the phone (hands or other body part) while operating the vehicle. 5086 targets using a phone or other communication device that was not affixed to the vehicle. They are not interchangeable — your notice’s code decides which row applies. DemeritCheck will not “pick the lower one” for you.
Demerit maths examples
- One final 5085 alone → 3 / 15 (remaining 12).
- Final 5085 + final stop-sign 4201 (3 pts) → 6 / 15 — see worked scenario.
- Pending 5085 → contributes 0 to the calculator total until you mark it final.
Common contexts
Urban camera or officer stops, freeway driving, and “I was only at the lights” situations all still resolve to whatever code was written up. PrDP holders use the same 15-point natural-person threshold under regulation 20(6); the livelihood stakes differ, not the Schedule maths. PrDP guide →
Representation considerations (high level)
People typically check: correct code and vehicle description, detection method, deadlines, and whether nomination applies if they were not driving. This site does not script “how to beat” a phone fine. Use notice options for process categories and official channels for filings.
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Model 5085 as final → · Model 5085 as pending → · Model 5086 as final →
Common high-point offences → · Full offence table → · Report a data error →