Traffic Charges Lawyers

Experienced Traffic Lawyers Gold Coast

Traffic Charges

With limited public transport on the Gold Coast, most of us drive a car. A lot of us also need our licence to drive to and from work. Some of us drive for work.

With most of us driving and the use of speed cameras and red light cameras increasing, chances are that you have received a fine or two for a traffic-related offence and have accumulated demerit points.

The accumulation of demerit points sometimes lead to a driver’s licence being suspended and sometimes, correspondence from Queensland Transport may not be received by you (if you frequently change address etc) and you may not be aware that you are driving without a licence.

Michael Coman LLB B Bus

Sometimes, unpaid fines can result in a State Penalty and Enforcement Registry (SPER) suspension which you may not be aware of.

If you are caught driving without a licence, or while your licence is suspended, you will be charged with “unlicensed driving” and you face a disqualification of your licence and a monetary fine. If you drive while on a “disqualified licence”, you face a significant period without your licence.

For repeat offenders, harsher penalties such as probation, community service or imprisonment can be ordered.

It is very important to seek legal representation and legal advice from an experienced solicitor as soon as possible after you are aware of your traffic offence so that you can avoid a harsh criminal charge.

Even though it is a traffic offence, you need to treat it seriously and the sooner you seek legal advice, the better the outcome for your driving charge. Our solicitors can assist you by providing options and advice and defending the matter in a court process.

A drink and driving charge may cost you more than just your driver’s licence.  At Davoren Associates we understand that you may need a licence to carry out your everyday commitments including your role as a parent or for work – without your licence, your job may be on the line.

If you find yourself in this situation, our experienced drink driving lawyers can assist you by:

  • Providing advice to you about expected penalties;
  • Referring you to driving programs or other professionals;
  • Appearing on your behalf in the Court to make submissions to the Magistrate about your circumstances and minimise any penalties; and
  • Assist you to obtain a Work licence so you can continue to use your car for work purposes.

Read more about how our Drink Driving Lawyers can help you if charged with a drink or drug driving offence or any other traffic matter. 

In the event that you refuse or fail to provide a breath test or blood test as directed by the Police, you may be charged with “Failing to supply a specimen of breath or blood” and you will be facing Court. The Court shall consider your charge like a major drink driving offence (0.15 or above) and shall penalise you at its discretion. The legal system may take into account your traffic history, related offences and previous traffic charges. It is crucial you seek legal assistance for the best outcome. 

In the event that you have been caught driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or less and you have not had your licence previously cancelled, suspended or disqualified (subject to time limits), you may have an opportunity to obtain a work licence to allow you to fulfil your work commitments.

You may be granted a work licence/restricted licence if you plead guilty to the charge and can satisfy the Court that –

  1. Without the licence you and your family would suffer extreme financial hardship, depriving you of the means of earning a living (that is, you shall lose your employment without a driver’s licence);
  2. You are a fit and proper person to hold a work licence/restricted licence, having regard to the safety of other road users and the public generally.
  3. That you were not driving for work purposes when you were caught drink driving.

Read more about work and restricted licences here. 

You will be disqualified from holding a driver licence for a stated period if you are convicted of:

  • Drink driving or drug driving offence
  • A dangerous driving offence
  • A criminal offence involving the driving or use of a motor vehicle
  • Your driver’s licence has expired and you have not renewed
  • You have voluntarily surrendered your driver licence
  • Your driver licence has been suspended or cancelled because you are medically unfit to drive safely
  • You do not hold the class of licence
  • You have never held a driver licence
  • Your driver licence has been suspended because of an accumulation of demerit points or a high-speed offence
  • Your driver licence has been immediately suspended or you have been immediately disqualified following a drink driving or drug driving offence
  • Your driver licence has been suspended by the State Penalties Enforcement Registry  because you have not paid fines
  • You have been disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence

Learner Drivers who accumulate four or more demerit points within a 12 month period will be suspended from driving for a period of 3 months. They do not have the option of choosing to drive under a good driving behaviour period.

Provisional Licenced drivers who accumulate four or more demerit points within a 12 month period will be sent an “Accumulation of Demerit Points- Notice to Choose” a good behaviour period option.

If you hold a Queensland open driver licence you may receive a warning letter from the Department of Transport when you gain at least 7 demerit points in a 3 year period. If 12 or more demerit points are accumulated within a 3 year period, you will be sent an “Accumulation of Demerit Points- Notice to Choose” a good behaviour period option.

Within a 3 year period:
  • If you accumulate at least 12 demerit points but not more than 15 demerit points, you will be suspended from driving for a period of 3 months.
  • If you accumulate at least 16 demerit points but not more than 19 demerit points, you will be suspended from driving for a period of 4 months.
  • If you accumulate at least 20 demerit points or more, you will be suspended from driving for a period of 5 months.

If you accumulate demerit points over a period of time, you may have the option to choose between:

  • Having your licence suspended for 3 months; OR
  • Agreeing to continue driving under a good behaviour period for 1 year.

You are required to notify the Department of Transport of your option. If you do not notify the Department, your licence will be automatically suspended for 3 months.

If you accumulate two or more demerit points during your good behaviour period, your licence will be suspended for 6 months.

If you are caught driving during your licence suspension period, you will be charged with unlicensed driving and you will be required to appear in Court for a sentence hearing.  If the traffic violation is proven, the court will disqualify you from holding or obtaining a driver licence as well as imposing a significant fine or one-year imprisonment. These are serious consequences and you need professional advice and legal aid from an accredited criminal law specialist.

You may be eligible to apply for a special hardship licence in the Court if your licence suspension will cause extreme hardship to you or your family by depriving you of your means of earning a living or severe and unusual hardship to you or your family, other than by depriving you of your means of earning a living.

To be eligible you must hold a Queensland driver licence (not a learner licence) which has been suspended because you:

  • Accumulated two or more demerit points while driving under a period of good driving behaviour for 1 year; or
  • Committed a high-speed driving offence (more than 40km/hour over the speed limit).

We can assist you with making an application for a special hardship order in the Court within 21 days from the start date of your licence suspension.

If you are found driving while your licence is disqualified, the Court will disqualify you for a further period of at least 2 years to a maximum of 5 years, as well as imposing a significant fine or 18 months imprisonment.

Your authority to drive in Queensland on a non-Queensland licence will be withdrawn when-

  • Three month residency rule applies to you; or
  • It is proven that you are medically unfit to drive safely

If you are found driving a motor vehicle in Queensland when your authority to drive in Queensland has been withdrawn, you may be given an infringement notice or be dealt with by a court for unlicensed driving.

If you were absolutely disqualified from holding or obtaining a Queensland driver licence for driving unlicensed before 13 March 2002, you may be eligible to apply to have your disqualification removed.  If you are successful, you can then reapply for a new licence. We can assist you with the necessary application to the Court.

If you are caught driving over the speed limit, you will be fined and you will accumulate demerit points.

If you are detected driving more than 40km/hour over the speed limit, you will be given a driving charge for the offence with a fine to be paid.  If you pay the fine or the offence is proven in the Court, you will be sent a “Notice of Driver Licence Suspension for Speeding Offence” stating that:

  • Your licence has been suspended for 6 months;
  • Your authority to drive in Queensland on your non-Queensland driver licence has been suspended for 6 months.
  • You have accumulated 8 demerit points.

All drivers are banned from using a mobile phone that is held in the hand while driving, for any reason including but not limited to dialling, texting, using the internet, GPS or music. These types of offences carry a serious penalty and can affect your driver licence. 

Learner drivers, probationary drivers and their passengers are subject to further mobile use restrictions to ensure road safety.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Drink Driving and Drug Driving
  • Refusing To Be Breathalised
  • Work Licence/Restricted Licence
  • Penalty Of Disqualification
  • Driving Without a Licence
  • Demerit Point Suspensions
  • Good Behaviour Period
  • Driving While Your Licence Is Suspended
  • Special Hardship Order
  • Licence Withdrawn
  • Driving While Your Licence Is Disqualified By a Court
  • Removal of Absolute Disqualification
  • Speeding Offences
  • Mobile Phones While Driving
  • Appearing in Court on your behalf
  • Dangerous driving
  • Late night driving restrictions

KEY PERSONNEL

Michael Coman, Legal Practice Director

More Information

Don’t risk your licence or heavy penalties, let our experienced traffic lawyers provide you with legal advise and assistance on any criminal matter, traffic ticket or traffic incident.  

Whatever your legal query, contact our Criminal Defence Lawyers at Davoren Associates or visit our Surfers Paradise office to obtain solid advice and useful information at a reasonable price.

Our dedicated and experienced lawyers offer a wide range of legal services for both individuals and businesses alike in any criminal law matter. Whatever your legal issue, our lawyers and support staff will strive to provide you with the best possible result and minimize your driving penalties.

Call us on (07) 5575 2844 to arrange a consultation.

Quick Enquiry

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Subscribe now for the latest
event updates!