Drink Driving
Drink Driving Charges
A drink driving charge is not always just a fine.
It can affect your licence, work, family arrangements, insurance and future driving position. Before you enter a plea, you should understand the likely penalty range, the licence consequences, whether a work licence may be available, and what preparation should be done before court.
Gold Coast Traffic Lawyer assists with drink driving charges, work licence applications and related traffic matters across the Gold Coast and South East Queensland.
The court date is only one part of the problem
A drink driving matter may affect more than the penalty imposed by the court. There may also be consequences for your licence, work, family arrangements, insurance, interlock obligations and future driving position.
The right advice depends on the whole picture — your alcohol reading, licence status, any prior traffic offences, the police material and what is at stake in your life.
Drink driving charges in Queensland
Drink driving offences are dealt with in the Magistrates Court. The seriousness of the charge usually depends on the alcohol reading, the circumstances of the driving, and whether there are previous drink driving, drug driving or other relevant traffic offences.
Drink driving charges are commonly described as low range, mid range or high range. Higher readings usually carry greater licence consequences and may increase the risk of additional penalties.
For many people, the immediate concern is practical: how long will I lose my licence, and can anything be done to reduce the impact?
That question should be answered before you enter a plea.
Get Advice Before Your Court Date
Traffic charges can affect your licence, work and future driving position. Get advice before you enter a plea, miss an application deadline, or make decisions about your licence.
Can I apply for a work licence?
Some drink driving charges may allow an application for a restricted licence, commonly called a work licence.
A work licence is not available for every drink driving offence. Eligibility depends on factors including your alcohol reading, your current licence status, and your traffic history. Even where you’re eligible, the application must be properly prepared and argued before the court.
Timing matters. If a work licence application is available, it usually needs to be dealt with at the same time as the drink driving sentence. Get advice before entering a plea — the wrong step at court can affect what options are available.
A work licence is not a general licence. If granted, it will usually come with strict conditions about when, where and why you can drive.
If you need to drive for work and are facing a drink driving charge, call (07) 5527 0277 or contact us before your court date.
Book a Consultation
Get clear advice before your court date. We will assess your matter, explain your options, and tell you what needs to happen next.
Contact us now
Get Advice Before Your Court Date
Know the cost before you commit. We offer fixed-fee representation where available, with practical payment options to suit your matter.
Enquire now
Urgent Traffic and Police Matters
If you need urgent advice about a traffic charge, police attendance, notice to appear or upcoming court date, call the office. For after-hours police station attendances or urgent criminal matters, we may be able to connect you with a lawyer on call.
Call (07) 5527 0277
Questions
We explain the court process clearly, prepare you for what to expect, and give you advice before each important decision. Before your court date, we help you understand the charge, the likely licence consequences, and the steps needed to put your matter in the best position.
What Affects the Outcome?
- the blood alcohol reading;
- whether the offence is low range, mid range or high range;
- your prior traffic history;
- whether you have previous drink driving or drug driving offences;
- whether your licence was immediately suspended;
- whether there was an accident or aggravating feature;
- whether you need your licence for work;
- what material is prepared before court.
Preparation is not just turning up on the day. The court can only consider what is properly put before it.
Fixed Fees and Costs
For straightforward drink driving matters — including a plea of guilty or an eligible work licence application — we can often quote a fixed fee upfront.
Not every matter fits that mould. The charge, the police material, whether the facts are agreed, and whether further court dates are required can all affect whether a fixed fee is realistic. If that is the position, we will tell you early.
Before any work starts, we will explain the fee structure and what is covered. Call (07) 5527 0277 or contact us to discuss whether a fixed fee is available for your matter.