Drink driving and immediate loss of licence

If you are caught drink driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over 0.079, speeding excessively or refuse to give a breath test, blood test, or drug test you may be disqualified from driving on the spot.

Other drink driving related disqualifications include:

• refusing to comply with direction of member of police force in relation to drug screening test, oral fluid analysis or blood test
• driving or attempting to put a vehicle in motion while under the influence.

Penalties

Blood alcohol

• Immediate loss of licence for six months if you are detected driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) between 0.08 and 0.149.
• Immediate loss of licence for 12 months if you are detected driving with a BAC of 0.15 or more.
• Demerit points and fines also apply to drink driving offences and the Court may also impose greater periods of disqualification.
• Loss of licence for second and subsequent offences of between 0.05 and 0.079 also applies.
• If you hold a full licence and are detected with a BAC of less than 0.08 and it is your first offence, you will be issued an expiation notice and will incur four demerit points (if you chose to pay the expiation). If you elect to have the offence heard in Court then the Court may order a period of disqualification if you are convicted of the offence.

Speeding

If you are caught travelling at 45 km/h or more above the speed limit, you will incur the following penalties:

• automatic loss of licence for six months
• nine demerit points
• expiation fee.

Related information

Other websites

Mandatory alcohol interlock scheme - Department for Infrastructure and Transport