Drink driving disqualification

If you hold a full licence and are detected with a BAC less than 0.08 for your first offence:

• You will be issued an expiation notice and gain 4 demerit points (if you pay the expiation).
• If you elect to have the offence heard in Court, the Court may impose a period of disqualification if you are convicted.

If you are detected with a BAC less than 0.08 and it is a second or subsequent offence, you will be issued a drink driving disqualification by Service SA.

If you have committed other drug or drink driving offences within the last 5 years they count as previous offences.

Immediate loss of licence for drink driving offences

South Australia Police (SAPOL) can also issue an immediate loss of licence for particular drink driving offences.

• BAC 0.08 - 0.149 — immediate loss of licence for 6 months
• BAC 0.15 or more — immediate loss of licence for 12 months
• Driving or attempting to put a vehicle in motion while under the influence — immediate loss of licence for 12 months
• Refuse to submit to an alcohol test or breath analysis — immediate loss of licence for 6 months.

Learn more about immediate loss of licence

If you receive a drink driving disqualification notice (first notice)

If you are detected with a BAC less than 0.08 and you have previous offences, you will be issued a drink driving disqualification.

Drink driving disqualification notices are sent by post to your address.

The disqualification period

• it's your second offence (within 3 years) — disqualified for 3 months
• it's your third offence (within 3 years) — disqualified for 6 months
• it's a subsequent offence (within 3 years) — disqualified for 12 months.

There is no right of appeal against a drink driving disqualification.

What you must do

Acknowledge your notice

You must personally acknowledge the notice and pay the fee within 28 days of the issue date.

You can do this at:

• a Service SA centre
• an Australia Post outlet — only for the first notice we sent you.

If you don't acknowledge your notice in time

If you don't acknowledge the first notice by the date printed on your notice:

• A second notice will be issued.
• A South Australian Police or Sheriff's officer will attempt to serve the notice on you personally by attending the residential address recorded on your licence.
• A higher fee will apply.
  • this can be paid at Service SA. You may not be able to undertake any other transactions until it's paid.

If the second notice can't be served to you personally, you'll be unable to undertake any other transactions with Service SA (eg renewing your vehicle registrations). You'll need to attend a Service SA centre to acknowledge the second notice in person. It can't be served over the phone or online.

What happens next

Any licence you held will be cancelled when the disqualification commences.

If you held a full licence, you’ll be issued a probationary licence when you reapply. Probationary conditions generally apply for 12 months but may be longer in some instances. 'Probationary conditions' will be printed on the front of your licence photo card.

If you hold a licence subject to probationary conditions:

• You must not drive a motor vehicle or attempt to put a motor vehicle in motion on a road with any concentration of alcohol or illegal substances in their blood or saliva.
• You must carry your licence card or digital licence at all times when driving and show it to a police officer when asked.
• You must not incur 2 or more demerit points during the probationary licence period.
• You are not able to supervise the driving of a person with a learner's permit.

Related information

Other websites

Mandatory alcohol interlock scheme - Department for Infrastructure and Transport