King & York Lawyers have a highly experienced team of Drink Driving Lawyers in Sydney who will fight for the best possible outcome.
Our drink driving lawyers can provide advice on whether you may be able to avoid a conviction and be granted leniency, whether your blood alcohol reading can be challenged, and otherwise help you prepare for your court date in order to get the best possible outcome in your circumstances
The penalties for drink driving vary significantly, depending on numerous factors. If you are convicted of a drinking driving offence in NSW, it is almost guaranteed that you will loose your drivers licence, be required to pay a fine and will receive a criminal record. In some instances, offenders could even face terms of imprisonment, particularly if the offence has been made on multiple occasions.
The Court will use the alcohol reading to determine sufficient and fair punishments, relative to the drink driving offence. It is also not uncommon for the less severe penalties to be enforced if you are a first time offender. The penalties incurred for first time drink driving, as per the PCA range are outlined below.
PCA Level | Maximum Fine | Maximum Imprisonment | Disqualification Period | Mandatory Interlock Period |
---|---|---|---|---|
Novice Range | $2,200 | N/A | Automatic – 6 months Minimum – 3 months | N/A |
Special Range | $2,200 | N/A | Automatic – 6 months Minimum – 3 months | N/A |
Low Range | $2,200 | N/A | Automatic – 6 months Minimum – 3 months | N/A |
Mid Range | $2,200 | 9 months | 3-6 months | 12 months |
High Range | $3,300 | 18 months | 9-12 months | 24 months |
PCA Level | Maximum Fine | Maximum Imprisonment | Disqualification Period | Mandatory Interlock Period |
---|---|---|---|---|
Novice Range | $3,300 | N/A | 1-3 months | 12 months |
Special Range | $3,300 | N/A | 1-3 months | 12 months |
Low Range | $3,300 | N/A | 1-3 months | 12 months |
Mid Range | $3,300 | 12 months | 6-9 months | 2 years |
High Range | $3,300 | 2 years | 9-12 months | 4 years |
It is also important to be aware that mid range and high range drink driving will incur a mandatory interlock licence order. The Court may also enforce offender to attend a Traffic Offenders Intervention Program, in which our drink driving lawyers are heavily involved in. It is also important to be aware that a guideline judgement is in place for driving High Range PCA which determine how drinking driving offences should be sentenced
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Frequently Asked Questions
The limit is 0.05% for full licence holders, 0.02% for professional drivers, and zero for learner and provisional licence holders.
Immediate licence suspension, fines, and potential vehicle impoundment.
A lawyer can argue mitigating circumstances, negotiate plea deals, or challenge the accuracy of the breathalyser test.
It's a breath-testing device connected to your vehicle's ignition. It's required for certain drink-driving offenders as part of their licence conditions.
Refusing a breath test is an offence and can result in penalties similar to those for high-range drink-driving.
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