These regulations, which mostly come into force on 6 August 2026, amend the Land Transport (Offences and Penalties) Regulations 1999 (the principal regulations) to—

• create new offences in relation to exceeding weight limits and non-compliance with access restrictions, with penalties and infringement fees that are—

  • comparable to the penalties that apply for breaching critical conditions of a permit to exceed mass limits issued under Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2016; and

  • required following the removal at the same time of the requirement in that rule for operators of 50MAX vehicles (a type of high-productivity motor vehicle) to hold such a permit; and

• increase the infringement fees for operating a vehicle with non-compliant tyres and wheels; and

• increase the infringement fees for operating a vehicle with a warrant of fitness that has been expired for 2 months or more from $200 to $350.

Regulation 5(1) and (3) of these regulations (which relates to the increased infringement fees) comes into force on 1 November 2026 to align with amendments being made to Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002 that come into force on that date.

The removal of the permit requirement in that rule has been accelerated as part of the Government’s fuel crisis response to relieve compliance costs for the heavy vehicle industry, which is under strain due to high fuel costs.