Having some of the most skilled, Williams Legal is able to help you with even the most complex of cases. However, not many people understand the different offences and penalties that exist.
It is important to remember that there are actually 3 different offences - driving with the prescribed concentration of alcohol (PCA), driving under the influence (DUI) and Driving with prescribed drug (PD).
Prescribed Concentration Alcohol (PCA) is the most common drink driving offence. This is where you are pulled over by police or enter a random breath testing (RBT) station. The police will ask you to blow into a yellow handheld machine called an alcolyser. If a positive reading is returned, you will be taken to a police station to provide a breath sample into a more accurate machine. You don’t need to seem drunk or to drive erratically to be guilty of this offence.
Driving With Prescribed Drug In Oral Fluid Or Blood (PD) is the most common drug driving offence. Like PCA this is where you are pulled over and tested by police. Again, you do not need to appear like you are under the effects of a drug. Police will first conduct a screening test where a sample of the saliva from your tongue is taken. They may then conduct an oral fluid test or a blood test. This oral fluid sample will be analysed by the police and by a laboratory.
Driving Under The Influence (DUI) is different. This offence is committed where police observe or your driving, your behaviour after driving, and decide that you are so much under influence of alcohol or drugs that you cannot control a vehicle. Police will take note of whether you are driving in a dangerous manner, slurring your words, swaying, smell like alcohol or have any other obvious signs of intoxication. Police may or may not require you to provide a breath sample back at the station.
Police need to precisely follow certain procedures to convict you of these offences. There are also a number of defences which might be open to you.
Our traffic solicitors have put together three simple tables outlining the penalties for each offence.
Driving with the Prescribed Concentration of Alcohol (PCA) |
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| Offence Category | Range | Minimum Fine | Minimum Licence Disqualification | Demerit Points | |
| 1st Offence | 1 |
0.05 – 0.079 | $1,100 | 3 months* | 4 |
| 2 | 0.08 – 0.149 | $ 900 -$1,300 | 6 Months | 5 | |
| 3 | 0.149+ | $1,100 - $1,600 | 12 Months | 6 | |
| 2nd Offence | 1 | 0.05 – 0.079 | $1,100 | 6 Months | 4 |
| 2 | 0.08 – 0.149 | $1,100 - $1,600 | 12 Months | 5 | |
| 3 | 0.149+ | $1,600 - $2,400 | 3 Years | 6 | |
| 3rd Offence | 1 | 0.05 – 0.079 | $1,100 | 9 Months | 4 |
| 2 | 0.08 – 0.149 | $1,500 - $2,200 | 2 Years | 5 | |
| 3 | 0.149+ | $1,900- $2,900 | 3 Years | 6 | |
| 4th or Subsequent Offence | 1 | 0.05 – 0.079 | $1,100 | 12 months | 4 |
| 2 | 0.08 – 0.149 | $1,500 - $2,200 | 2 years | 5 | |
| 3 | 0.149+ | $1,900- $2,900 | 3 years | 6 | |
| * A category 1 first offender must be given an expiation notice and there will be no disqualification if the expiation notice is paid. | |||||
Driving with prescribed drug in oral fluid or blood (PD) |
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| Minimum Fine | Minimum Licence Disqualification | Demerit Points | |
| 1st Offence | $ 900 - $1,300 | 3 months | 4 |
| 2nd Offence | $1,100 - $1,600 | 6 Months | 4 |
| 3rd Offence | $1,500 - $2,200 | 12 Months | 4 |
| 4th or Subsequent Offence | $1,500 - $2,200 | 2 years | 4 |
Driving under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI) |
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| Fine/Imprisonment | Minimum Licence Disqualification | Demerit Points | |
| 1st Offence | $1,100 - $1,600 or up to 3 months imprisonment |
12 Months | 6 |
| Subsequent Offences | $1,900 - $2,900 or up to 6 months imprisonment |
3 Years | 6 |
Williams Legal is Here to Help
If you’ve been charged with driving with the prescribed concentration of alcohol, driving with prescribed drug in oral fluid or blood or with driving under the influence, our team of trained drink driving and drug driving lawyers can help with your defence.