The immoral driving licence act becoming shamefully common: 'Unacceptable'

Do the crime, do the time. That was once the line thrown at anyone breaking the law.

But it's now been repurposed to fit a new breed of law breakers who don't want to be held accountable for their actions.

For thousands of serial offenders, it's a case of do the crime, look on online.

Because if you're a motorist channelling Aussie racing car driver Oscar Piastri and fast churning through your demerit points, there's a thriving black market – or Facebook Marketplace to give it its proper name – ready to ease your pain.

For as little as $30, someone will take the rap (and points) and say it was them in the driver's seat, not you.

It's illegal, immoral and fraudulent – and hugely popular despite warnings of a crackdown from authorities.

But isn't this just another example of people refusing to take responsibilities for their actions?

It seems it's always someone else's fault – and now you can pay someone to say it actually was.

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• The high-risk driving act Australia needs to do something about now

I'm no driving cleanskin, but I've taken my punishment

Before we go much further, let's make one thing clear.

I'm no driving cleanskin thumping my fists on the steering wheel like some righteous freeway evangelist.

I've had my share of speeding fines and last year picked up a red-light camera infringement, which still burns 18 months later.

The fine arrived about the same time as the Christmas credit card bills. Transport NSW sure know how to spread festive cheer.

But long after the financial pain had subsided, it's the loss of three demerit points that still stings the most.

Losing points hits you in the pocket when it comes to insurance, car registration and licence renewals.

And, just as bad, you've got to drive like Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy to get those valuable points back after three years.

Did I flirt with the idea of trying to offload the infringement to some third-party demerit points fixer?

Keep it between me and you, but the thought did briefly cross my mind.

That was until I accepted I had to own this mistake and, through gritted teeth, face my punishment.

Demerit points essential to lower alarming road toll

So, it was some comfort to hear the NRMA's Peter Khoury assure me I'd done the right thing.

He points out maintaining and protecting the demerit point system is absolutely vital in ensuring our alarming road toll doesn’t rise even further.

Khoury told Yahoo News Australia: "We support the demerit point system and I think the government's doing the right thing to close off any loopholes".

"People should not be selling points online and we're pleased that they're cracking down on that behaviour. It's completely unacceptable," Khoury said.

"The demerit point system is something that's important to ensure people have a reason to drive safely. You have to have some enforcement measure in place. Every state and territory in Australia has a form of it, and it works."

That's good enough for me.

It's clear there's no merit in being a demerit evader.

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