Drink driving (PCA)
Don’t drink and drive. But if you’ve done so, severe penalties apply, because our state takes this kind of thing very seriously.
You may face a licence disqualification, but engage a lawyer for your best chances.
If you’ve had an accident, hurt someone, or damaged property while drink driving, there is a greater risk of ending up in jail than you think. This isn’t just a mere traffic offence — it’s a serious criminal one. If you don’t believe me, ask the folk in jail for it.
Before you take your chances in court, take a sober look at your options — 0433 993 622.
Drug driving
You don’t have to feel high to be guilty.
Most people assume drug driving is about being off your face behind the wheel. That’s certainly one version of it — but it isn’t the one that catches most people.
In NSW, it’s an offence to drive with certain illicit drugs simply present in your system — cannabis, methylamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine. It doesn’t matter whether you felt fine. It doesn’t matter whether you drove perfectly. If the test finds it, the charge follows.
And here’s the part that surprises people: some of these drugs can stay detectable in your system long after you’ve stopped feeling anything at all. That joint from the weekend may have finished its work on your brain, but it may not have finished its work on your licence.
There are two main offences:
Driving with an Illicit Drug Present is the more common one. No impairment needs to be proven — just the presence of the drug.
Driving Under the Influence of a Drug is more serious, because it means the drug was actually affecting your ability to drive. This one isn’t limited to illicit drugs, either — some prescription medications can land you here too.
Penalties can include fines, licence disqualification and, for the more serious offences, the possibility of jail. But how the test was done, and what was found, can matter a great deal.
Before you plead to anything, get someone to look closely at the evidence — someone whose number tests positive for helpfulness: 0433 993 622.
Driving while suspended or disqualified
Just this once, you thought.
The shops are only five minutes away. You’re a good driver. Nobody will notice. And then a police car pulls in behind you, runs your plates, and the lights come on.
Driving while your licence is suspended, cancelled or disqualified is one of the most common offences we see — and one of the most avoidable. Courts take it seriously because it shows that someone was told not to drive, and drove anyway. That’s not just a traffic issue; it’s a question of whether you follow orders.
The penalties climb quickly, especially for repeat offences, and they can include further disqualification and even jail. Yes — jail. For driving to the shops.
That said, the reasons you drove matter. So does your history, your need for a licence, and what you’ve done since. A lawyer can put those things in front of the Court in a way that actually helps you.
If you’ve been caught out, don’t drive to court on your own — that’s a whole new charge. Call instead: 0433 993 622.
Unlicensed driving
A licence is a privilege, not a souvenir.
There are a few ways to end up driving without a licence. Some people have never held one. Some let theirs expire and simply forgot to renew it. Others had it cancelled and never got it back.
The law treats these situations differently. Forgetting to renew your licence is not the same as never having bothered to get one in the first place — and both are very different from driving after a court has told you not to (which is covered above, and is more serious).
Penalties are higher if you’ve done it before, so a first offence is the best time to get it dealt with properly.
And if you’re reading this because you’ve just realised your licence expired three months ago — stop driving, renew it, and then call 0433 993 622.
Speeding
Everyone speeds. Not everyone gets caught.
Most speeding fines are just that — a fine and some demerit points. Annoying, but survivable.
The real trouble starts when you’re caught going well over the limit. In NSW, if Police catch you driving more than 30km/h over the limit, they can suspend your licence on the spot for 3 months. More than 45km/h over, and it’s 6 months. No court, no judge — just a police officer, a notice, and a long walk home.
You also have the option of electing to take a speeding fine to court rather than paying it. Sometimes that’s a smart move. Sometimes it isn’t. It depends on your driving record, the circumstances and what’s at stake — and that’s exactly the kind of question worth asking a lawyer before you decide.
If your licence has been suspended for speeding, you may be able to appeal — see Licence appeals below.
Slow down, and dial 0433 993 622 — no speed limit on that.
Licence appeals
Lost your licence? Maybe not for long.
When Police or Transport for NSW suspend or cancel your licence, it can feel like the decision is final. Often, it isn’t.
Many licence suspensions can be appealed to the Local Court. On an appeal, a magistrate can confirm the suspension, shorten it, or set it aside altogether.
The magistrate will want to know things like: Why do you need your licence? What does your driving record look like? What happened on the day? Will losing your licence cost you your job, or stop you caring for someone who depends on you?
But here’s the catch — there are strict time limits. Miss the deadline and the door closes. And not every type of suspension can be appealed, so it’s important to check early whether yours can.
A good appeal is built on good evidence: references, employment letters, a clean story told well. That’s where a lawyer earns their keep.
Don’t wait until your time runs out — 0433 993 622.
Negligent, dangerous & furious driving
A car is a two-tonne weapon.
Most of the time we forget that. We drive half-asleep, half-distracted, half-thinking about dinner. And most of the time, nothing happens. But sometimes it does — and then the law wants to know exactly how you were driving.
These offences sit on a ladder of seriousness:
Negligent Driving is the lowest rung. It means you didn’t drive with the care a reasonable driver would have taken. A lapse of attention, a misjudged turn. If nobody is hurt, it’s usually dealt with by a fine and possibly a disqualification — but if someone is seriously injured or killed, the penalties rise sharply, including the possibility of jail.
Furious, Reckless or Dangerous Driving is a step up. This is driving that goes beyond carelessness — speeding through a busy street, weaving through traffic, driving in a way that clearly puts the public at risk.
Dangerous Driving Occasioning Grievous Bodily Harm or Death sits at the top, and these are serious criminal offences under the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), carrying maximum penalties measured in years, not months — up to 10 years in prison where someone dies, and more again where aggravating features are present, like a high level of alcohol or a very high speed.
The difference between these offences can come down to small details — speed, road conditions, what the other driver did, what the witnesses actually saw. Those details are where cases are won and lost.
If you’ve been charged, slow down and call 0433 993 622 before you say anything else.
Police pursuits
You will not outrun the radio.
It looks exciting in the movies. In real life, it’s a terrible idea. Police cars have sirens, helicopters, road spikes and — most importantly — your number plate.
In NSW, if you know Police are chasing you and you don’t stop, and you drive recklessly or at a dangerous speed while doing it, you’re committing a serious criminal offence. It’s sometimes called Skye’s Law, and it carries a maximum penalty of 3 years in prison for a first offence, and 5 years for a second, as well as a lengthy licence disqualification.
Courts take these offences very seriously, because pursuits put everyone on the road in danger — the officers, the public, and you.
That said, these cases often turn on questions of identification — was it really you behind the wheel? — and on whether you actually knew you were being pursued. Those are questions worth asking.
If you’ve been charged, stop running and start calling: 0433 993 622.
