Drink Driving Lawyer Cairns — Fixed Fee
$2,100 — Fixed Fee
Drink driving plea — Cairns Magistrates Court — $2,100 fixed Covers : initial consultation, review of your BAC reading and traffic history, sentencing submissions, character reference guidance, court appearance, and post-sentence advice on disqualification and licence options. No hidden fees. One invoice. All fees +10% GST.
What Is Included
Initial consultation to review your charge, your BAC reading, and your traffic history Advice on the likely penalty range and realistic outcomes for your specific charge Preparation of written sentencing submissions for the Magistrates Court Guidance on character references — what to obtain and how to present them Full appearance by Sacha at your sentencing hearing Advice on your disqualification period and licence options after the hearing
A Drink Driving Charge Has Mandatory Consequences
In Queensland, every drink driving conviction carries a mandatory licence disqualification. The Magistrates Court has no discretion to waive it. The length of the disqualification, the size of the fine, and whether a conviction is recorded are the things Sacha can influence. Your charge category is determined by your BAC reading at the time of the offence: Low range — 0.050 to 0.099 BAC. Mandatory minimum disqualification of 1 month. Maximum fine $2,418. Up to 3 months' imprisonment. A first-time, low-range offender has a realistic prospect of no conviction being recorded. Mid range — 0.100 to 0.149 BAC. Mandatory disqualification of 3 to 12 months. Maximum fine $3,454. Up to 6 months' imprisonment. Your licence is suspended immediately from the time of charge. High range — 0.150 BAC and above (deemed DUI). A reading of 0.150 or above triggers the conclusive presumption under s 79(3) of the TORUM Act — you are deemed to have been driving under the influence. The charge is laid under s 79(1). Mandatory minimum disqualification of 6 months. Maximum fine of 28 penalty units (approximately $4,836). Up to 9 months' imprisonment. Immediate suspension applies. A work licence is NOT available — s 87(5)(da) bars all s 79(1) convictions. Repeat offenders face longer disqualifications, higher fines, and potential vehicle impoundment. Zero limit — learner, provisional, and certain professional licence holders. Any reading above 0.000 BAC is an offence. Disqualification of 1 to 9 months. The category of your charge is fixed by the reading — it cannot be negotiated down. What Changes the Outcome The charge range is fixed, but the sentence within that range is not. Magistrates in Queensland have real discretion on the disqualification length, the fine amount, and whether a conviction is recorded. What Sacha puts before the court determines where in the range you land. The factors that move a sentence toward the minimum include: Your traffic and criminal history. A first offence with a clean driving record sits at the lower end of the range. Prior drink driving matters, other traffic offences, or a criminal history will push the outcome upward. Sacha will tell you at the first consultation where your history places you. Your employment and licence dependency. If your livelihood depends on a licence — trades, deliveries, healthcare, remote work — that is relevant to both the disqualification length and to whether a work licence application runs alongside the plea. Magistrates are not unmoved by the practical consequences of a long disqualification on a person who needs their licence to work. Your personal circumstances. Illness, financial hardship, family responsibilities, or other pressures at the time of the offence can be placed before the court as context. They do not change the category of the charge, but they affect how the court assesses your culpability and the appropriate penalty. Steps taken since the charge. Completion of a drink driving awareness course, counselling, or other steps since the offence demonstrates engagement and reduces the perceived risk of reoffending. Sacha will advise on what is worth doing before your hearing date. What Happens at Your Hearing Most drink driving pleas in Cairns are listed for a sentencing hearing at the Cairns Magistrates Court. At that hearing, Sacha presents your plea and places written sentencing submissions before the Magistrate. Those submissions address your personal circumstances, your driving history, any character references, your employment situation, and the relevant sentencing principles. The Magistrate then imposes sentence — the disqualification period, the fine, and a decision on whether to record a conviction. The hearing itself is typically short. The preparation is where the outcome is determined. Sacha will prepare written submissions in every matter at this fee level. A verbal plea with no written material is not what this product covers. What Sacha Focuses On The mandatory disqualification cannot be avoided, but the outcome within the available range is not fixed. Sacha will prepare submissions that address your specific circumstances — your driving history, your employment, your need for a licence, and any mitigating factors. The difference between the minimum disqualification and the maximum is significant, and so is whether a conviction goes on your record. For first-time offenders, the Magistrates Court has discretion to deal with the matter without recording a conviction in appropriate circumstances. This is not guaranteed, and it becomes less available as the BAC reading increases — but it is a genuine outcome in the right case. Sacha will advise you honestly on whether it is realistic for your charge. Licence Options After a Drink Driving Disqualification Work licence. If you are charged with a general alcohol limit offence under s 79(2) (BAC 0.050–0.099) or a middle alcohol limit offence under s 79(1F) (BAC 0.100–0.149) and you hold a current Queensland open licence, you may be eligible to apply for a work licence. A BAC of 0.150 or above is not eligible — the conclusive presumption under s 79(3) deems it a DUI charge under s 79(1), which is barred by s 87(5)(da). You must not have had a relevant conviction, licence suspension, or cancellation in the past five years. Sacha can assess your eligibility and prepare the application at the same time as your plea. Special hardship order. A special hardship order is not available for drink driving disqualifications. It applies to licence suspensions arising from demerit points or serious speeding. If your matter involves both, Sacha will advise on both pathways.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Will I lose my licence? Yes. Queensland law requires mandatory disqualification for every drink driving conviction. The minimum period depends on your BAC range and your history. Sacha focuses on the shortest available disqualification and on whether a work licence application is appropriate in your circumstances. Can I drive while the matter is before the court? For low-range charges (under 0.100 BAC), your licence is generally not suspended until sentence unless another charge is already on foot. For mid and high-range charges (0.100 BAC and above), your licence is suspended immediately from the time of charge — you cannot drive until the court deals with the matter. If you are unsure about your suspension status, call Civic Law before driving. Can I avoid a conviction being recorded? The Magistrates Court has discretion in appropriate cases. It is most available for first-time, low-range offenders with strong mitigating factors. It is not routinely available for mid or high-range charges. Sacha will tell you honestly whether it is a realistic outcome in your case. What will the Magistrate consider at sentence? The Magistrate considers your BAC reading, your traffic and criminal history, your personal circumstances, any character references, and the submissions Sacha makes. The written submissions Sacha prepares are the primary vehicle for placing mitigating material before the court. Appearing without them is the difference between a sentence at the top and a sentence at the bottom of the range. Can I keep driving to work while I wait for my hearing? For low-range charges, yes — your licence is generally not suspended until the date of sentence. For mid and high-range charges, your licence is suspended from the time of charge and you cannot drive. The work licence application, if you are eligible, is made on the day of your sentencing hearing and takes effect immediately if granted. How long will my matter take? Most drink driving pleas in Cairns are resolved at a single sentencing hearing. From charge to finalisation, most matters take between four and eight weeks. Civic Law will give you an accurate timeline once Sacha has your listing date.