Traffic Lawyers Sydney

Drink Driving

Being charged with a drink driving offence is for a lot of people, their first brush with the law and can be an anxious time. This is especially the case where your livelihood depends on having a licence to drive. We are experienced Criminal Lawyers in Sydney and specialise in driving and traffic offences.

There are a number of offences that fall under the category of drink driving.

Novice range PCA (prescribed concentration of alcohol)

This offence is committed when a person drives a motor vehicle on a public road with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.00 and up to 0.019 and is usually charged where the driver is restricted to a zero blood alcohol limit, like learner drivers or P1 and P2 drivers.

Special range PCA

This offence is committed when a person drives a motor vehicle on a public road with a blood alcohol concentration between 0.02 and 0.049 and is an offence charged when the driver is restricted to a zero blood alcohol limit or a limit of 0.02 like bus and taxi drivers.

Low range PCA

Low range PCA applies in circumstances when the driver of a motor vehicle drives on a public road with a blood alcohol concentration of over 0.05 and below 0.08.

Medium range PCA

Medium range PCA is charged where the driver of a motor vehicle on a public road does so with a blood alcohol concentration from 0.08 and below 0.15.

High range PCA

High range PCA can be charged where a driver of a motor vehicle on a public road has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 and higher. Find out more about high range drink driving and what the court takes into account on sentence here.

In addition to these offences, police may also charge offences like:

  • Driving under the influence of alcohol

  • Refuse breath analysis

  • Drug driving

  • Dangerous driving


Penalties

The maximum penalties for drink driving offences depend on whether it is a first offence or whether it is a second offence within 5 years. The penalty also depends on the amount of alcohol detected.

DRINK DRIVING PENALTIES

First_drink_driving_offence_penalties
Second_drink_driving_offence_penalties

All drink driving offences are considered by the court to be very serious.

Drug driving is also a very common offence. Police are able to do roadside drug testing in the same way that they conduct RBT. It is a serious offence and can have significant impact on your employment prospects and your ability to travel overseas if convicted.

Other driving offences

Driving offences also include negligent driving, driving while disqualified and driving while licence suspended. Contact Kingston Fox Lawyers if you are charged with a driving offence or have been issued a penalty notice to discuss your options.