Our team of experienced Criminal Lawyers conduct pleas for mitigation in all range of drink driving offences, in Courts across Sydney and New South Wales..

They can arrange with experts for the provision of a pathology report to confirm or refute the accuracy of a breath test, and can make detailed submissions identifying circumstances the Magistrate or Judge must take into account when sentencing.

Call one of our experienced Criminal Law solicitors for free initial advice on your circumstances on (02) 9525 8688.

The Law

Low Range PCA involves a fully licenced driver/rider returning a reading of between 0.05 and 0.08 grams of alcohol per 100 millimetres of blood or 210 litres of breath. This offence can result in the imposition of disqualification for up to 12 months and fines of up to $2200 for second offences or disqualification for 6 months and fines up to $1100 for first offences.

Mid Range PCA involves a fully licenced driver/rider returning a reading of between 0.08 and 0.15 grams of alcohol per 100 millimetres of blood or 210 litres of breath. This offence can result in the imposition of disqualification for up to 3 years, fines of up to $3300 and imprisonment for up to 12 months for second offences or disqualification for 12 months, fines up to $2200 and imprisonment for up to 9 months for first offences.

High Range PCA involves a fully licenced driver/rider returning a reading of above 0.15 grams of alcohol per 100 millimetres of blood or 210 litres of breath. This offence can result in the imposition of disqualification for up to 5 years, fines of up to $5500 and prison terms of up to 2 years for second offences or disqualification for 3 years, fines up to $3300 and imprisonment for periods up to 18 months for first offences.

Novice Range PCA offences relate to learner or provisional drivers/riders who, due to their deemed lack of experience in operating a motor vehicle have to have a nil or zero blood alcohol level when driving/riding.

Special Range PCA offences relate to bus and truck drivers, other professional drivers/riders as well as learner or provisional drivers/riders and also those disqualified from holding a licence or having been refused a licence who are prohibited from driving with a blood alcohol reading over 0.02 grams of alcohol per 100 millimetres of blood or 210 litres of breath. The Special Range PCA offence occurs where a reading is given of between 0.02 up to 0.05 grams of alcohol per 100 millimetres of blood or 210 litres of breath.

Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUI) - In NSW the Police have the power to randomly stop drivers and test them for the presence of cannabis, ecstasy and methamphetamines. The penalties for such offences mirror those for mid range PCA offences.

Refuse Breath Analysis - It is an offence to refuse a breath test at the roadside or a breath analysis at the police station. The Maximum penalty for the offence of Refuse Breath Analysis is a fine of up to $3,300 and or imprisonment for up to 18 months.

For further information call one of our experienced Criminal Law solicitors for some free initial telephone advice on (02) 9525 8688