Author: Jones + Associates

by Jones + Associates

Will a Conviction Be Recorded Against Me?

When a person is convicted of an offence, whether it is a serious or relatively minor offence, the effect on their life can be profound. Even after serving your sentence, paying your fines, and accepting the punishment imposed upon you by the court, you may continue to face the stigma that can be attached to those with a criminal record.

The effects of a criminal conviction

You may be asked to disclose your criminal history in everyday situations including: certain licence applications, job applications, rental agreements and blue card applications.  Often, having a criminal history can affect your eligibility for a job by colouring the opinion of the person reviewing your application. The legal system does allow individuals to keep their criminal history to themselves after a certain period of time has passed.

Spent convictions

‘Spent’ convictions are convictions which no longer have to be disclosed because enough time has lapsed since the conviction. The time that must pass in order for a conviction to be ‘spent’ will depend on the court in which the person was convicted.

Magistrates Court

If you were convicted in the Magistrates Court, you do not have to disclosure your conviction if:

• the conviction was five or more years ago;
• you did not serve a term of imprisonment, or your term of imprisonment was for 30 months or less;
• you have fulfilled all other court orders in relation to the sentence;
• you have not been convicted of another offence within the five years since your initial conviction; and
• no exceptions apply.

If all of these requirements are met, your conviction will be considered ‘spent’ and there will no longer be an obligation to disclose.

District or Supreme Court

Similarly, if you were convicted in the District or Supreme Court, you will no longer be required to disclose your conviction if:

• the conviction was 10 or more years ago;
• you did not serve a term of imprisonment, or your term of imprisonment was for 30 months or less;
• you have fulfilled all other court orders in relation to that sentence;
• you have not been convicted of another offence within the 10 years since your initial conviction; and
• no exceptions apply.

If all of these requirements are met, your conviction will be considered ‘spent’ and there will no longer be an obligation to disclose.

Exceptions

Even when all other criteria are met, you may still be required to disclose your criminal history if one of the many exceptions apply.

The exceptions listed in the Criminal Law (Rehabilitation of Offenders Act) 1986 (Qld) are too numerous to list in this article however, it is important to note that people in certain positions have disclosure obligations that relate to the terms of their employment and their professional responsibilities. People employed within the Department of Education or the criminal justice system such as police and Justices of the Peace need to be especially aware of their obligations in this regard.

If you or someone you love has been convicted of a crime and needs advice as to their disclosure obligations, an experienced lawyer will be able to help you determine if any exceptions exist, so please contact our criminal lawyers Brisbane one as soon as possible.

by Jones + Associates

What Does Bail Mean and Will I Get It?

These days, it seems like every channel that you flip to on the television is some kind of cop show or procedural drama. Because of this, even the average lay-person can use terms like ‘parole’ and ‘bail’ in everyday conversation. However, that doesn’t signify that the meaning of these terms are clear. Despite inclusion in the common vernacular, the reality of bail may be a bit more significant than you might expect.

What is ‘bail’?

Bail is a pivotal aspect at the start of a person’s criminal defence. When awaiting trial, a defendant may apply for bail which, if the application is approved, will allow them to await trial while remaining free in the community. If the application for bail fails, the offender will need to remain in police custody until the trial. Bail is a written agreement, known as an undertaking, for the offender to show up for their trial at a specific date and time. Bail may also include additional considerations such as: reporting (to a police station, for example), residential conditions (not moving while on bail), and fines.

Watch-house bail: The most basic form of bail, watch-house bail, is granted when you are arrested and charged with an offence but you are allowed to remain at liberty within the community, provided that you sign a bail undertaking stating your agreement to appear before the court at a specific day and time.

Court bail: If you are denied watch-house bail, your alternative option is to apply to court to be granted bail. Once you sign the agreement, you will be released from custody and will be free to remain in the community until your agreed-upon court date and time. If your agreed-upon court date is then rescheduled, you will be required to sign an additional bail agreement or else you might be arrested.

Bail enlargements: Sometimes, a person who has been charged with an offence will be assigned multiple court dates. In this case, the person may want to apply for a ‘bail enlargement’ so that they can remain in the community until the later court date, rather than needing to apply for multiple bail agreements at each stage of the process.

What does the court consider when considering a bail application?

After a person applies for bail, the court must then decide whether or not to grant the application or deny it. There are a number of factors that the court must consider. The Bail Act 1980 (Qld) states that an application for bail will only be granted if custody is not necessary to ensure the safety of the applicant and the applicant is not considered an “unacceptable risk” of:

• failing to appear at the agreed upon date and time;
• failing to surrender into custody;
• committing an offence while released on bail;
• endangering the victim of the offence for which the applicant was charged;
• endangering any other person;
• interfering with the investigation, witnesses, or otherwise obstructing justice.

There are numerous other aspects of an individual’s circumstances that the court will consider, including (but by no means limited to):

• Personal matters: job, children, residence.
• Previous history with the criminal justice system, such as their criminal record. Also, have they missed court dates before?
• Risk of releasing back into the community: Are they likely to flee? Are they dangerous? Are they likely to commit further offences?
• The matter at hand: nature and severity of the offence charged; strength of the evidence against them; are they/someone they know able to provide surety/financial collateral if bail is breached?
• Any other issue the court deems relevant to the matter.

While bail is a beneficial mechanism for many individuals as they await trial, there is a great deal of rationale behind the court’s decision to either grant or deny bail. If you or a loved one have questions or concerns about what bail really means, or how you might apply for it, please contact an experienced Brisbane Criminal defence lawyers today at Jones + Associates. They will be your best resource as you attempt to navigate the criminal justice system.

by Jones + Associates

How Do I Make Changes to a QLD Domestic Violence Order?

For the authorities, combating domestic violence in Brisbane Queensland is an ongoing challenge. Thousands of applications for domestic violence orders (DVOs) are initiated annually, and there are no signs the trend is changing. In fact, statistics provided by the Queensland Courts indicate:

• the number of new applications for DVOs lodged statewide in 2018-2019 stood at more than 25,800 (as of 30 April, 2019);
•  the total number of new applications lodged statewide for all of 2017-2018 was 30,381;
• the total number of new applications lodged statewide for 2016-2017 was 32,072.

A closer look at the 2018-2019 data reveals that Queensland Courts have issued more than 41,200 DVOs as of April 30, 2019. Of those, more than 20,800 were protection orders. More than 14,500 were temporary protection orders. Only 5,861 were ‘vary protection’ orders.

Of significance here is that Queensland Courts only issue the latter order to people seeking changes to existing DVOs.

Who can request changes to a DVO?

Technically, anyone whose name appears on a DVO can request changes. It doesn’t matter if you are the aggrieved, respondent, applicant or a named person (such as a relative). Nor does it matter if the DVO is a temporary protection order or a protection order. As long as your name is on the order, you can ask a court to change it.

Having said that, if you are the aggrieved person (victim) you can also authorise someone else to request the changes on your behalf. Additionally, if you are a ‘named person’, you can only request changes to the portion(s) of the DVO that pertain directly to you.

When changes to a DVO can be requested

If you meet the criteria we just discussed and your circumstances have changed, you can apply for a variation of the order. This is so even if the police made the original application to the court.

Based on changes in your situation, you can request the following changes to an existing DVO:

• the addition or removal of conditions;
• the addition or removal of named people (e.g. children, other family members, and associates);
• an extension or reduction of the time the order is in effect.

If you are requesting the removal of stipulations which potentially lessen protection for the victim, be prepared to explain:

•  specific changes in circumstances;
•  how the victim and any named individuals  will remain free from harm.

Remember, the safety, protection and well-being of people who fear or have been victims of domestic violence, including children, is paramount to police and the courts.

The magistrate will take your testimony and the police officer’s testimony into account before making a decision.

We are here to help

At Jones + Associates, Brisbane Domestic Violence Lawyers  is dedicated to securing the best possible outcomes for our clients. If you need assistance with obtaining or changing a domestic violence order, we are here to help. Contact us at criminal lawyers Brisbane to learn more today.

by Jones + Associates

Five Ways To Reduce Legal Fees

Let’s be honest. One of the single biggest factors, if not the biggest factor, that prevents people from seeking legal representation is the cost. But what people sometimes fail to consider is that by not obtaining proper legal advice and representation, their matter can often end up being more expensive in the long-term. With that said, here are five ways to reduce your legal fees.

Exercise discretion

Being involved in a court case of any kind can be incredibly stressful so it’s understandable if you are anxious. However, it’s important that you don’t bombard your lawyer with constant requests for updates by email or phone. A qualified and experienced legal professional will keep you fully informed of any relevant developments. Another point to keep in mind is that a good lawyer will also welcome questions about specific issues or concerns.

Be prepared

Time is money for you and your lawyer, especially if they are billing by the hour. You can minimise the amount of time spent in meetings with your lawyer by being prepared. But what does this actually mean?

Simply put, it means you should do the following:

• Ask your lawyer what, if anything, you should bring to the meeting, and act accordingly.
• If you bring a stack of unorganised papers, you or your lawyer will end up wasting valuable time sorting through it during the conference. Once you know what your lawyer needs, organise the documents by subject matter or date. If you need to keep the originals, make the copies yourself.
• Think carefully about what you’d like to discuss with your lawyer prior to the meeting. Put those thoughts in writing (a list is a good idea), and don’t forget to bring your notes to the meeting or conference.
• Be sure to arrive at the meeting on time, or even a few minutes early. By doing so you will give yourself time to catch your breath. If need be, you can use the time to jot down a few last-minute thoughts. This will also allow you to make the most of the available time that you do have with your lawyer.

Ask your lawyer if you can do some of your own research

More often than not, lawyers must devote a significant amount of time to researching various aspects of their clients’ cases. While they are well-equipped to do so, there might be some factual research that you can do, too. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you might be able to help by locating information or witnesses. You may also be able to create a timeline or draft statements regarding the facts of your case.

As long as you don’t bombard your lawyer with tons of completely irrelevant material, your lawyer will probably appreciate your efforts. Better yet, you’ll effectively reduce your legal fees because your lawyer won’t have to do the research.

Don’t let your emotions get the best of you

Being a party to a legal matter is an emotional experience. It doesn’t matter if you are involved in a business dispute, a family matter or any other civil or criminal matter. You may be angry, frustrated, stressed, overwhelmed or frightened. However, it’s important that you don’t let your emotions get the best of you, especially when it comes to making important decisions. If you do, you may make choices that delay the resolution of the matter (costing you more in legal fees), or cause the court to award the other party their costs. In a criminal matter, making the wrong choice based on your emotions could mean you have to pay more in fines or spend more time in jail.

Be honest with your lawyer, no matter what

Don’t be surprised if there are times when your lawyer asks you a question that you’d really rather not answer. Depending on the question, you may feel embarrassed or concerned that it could harm your case.

But when all is said and done, your lawyer’s job is to help you. Failing to disclose important information or details when asked could not only unnecessarily delay your case (resulting in more fees and costs) but it could even wreck your case completely (meaning you’ll just end up wasting your money).

Consequently, it is extremely important that you are always open and honest with your lawyer. If you don’t feel like this is the case with your current lawyer, you may have to switch legal representatives so you can work with someone that makes you more comfortable.

At Jones + Associates, our clients always come first. We also believe in providing honest, efficient and cost-effective advice. To help with the costs of representation, ask us about fixed fees for our services.

To learn more about how Criminal Law Firms Australia can help you, phone us on  07 3229 3166 or use our contact page.

by Jones + Associates

Police Powers and Responsibilities – Seized Property

Sometimes, police seize property in the course of exercising their duties and investigating crime. If your property has been seized by police, it is important to know your rights and how you can you go about having that property returned.

Hang on to your Field Property Receipt

The Police Powers and Responsibilities Act (PPRA) gives police powers to seize property in certain circumstances. In most circumstances, when a police officer seizes property from a person, they must provide that person with a receipt. This is called a Field Property Receipt and will list the items police have taken. This receipt can help you or your lawyer get your items back so it’s important that you hang on to it.

How long can police keep my stuff?

When a police officer seizes property, that officer is responsible for the safekeeping of the property until it is delivered to a property officer or property point. Unless the property is the subject of a charge, police may retain seized property for up to 30 days. After this time, they will need to obtain an order from a Justice of the Peace or a Magistrate. There are some obvious exceptions to this requirement like property that is perishable or has no intrinsic value.

Without such an order, a police officer MUST return the property to the owner or the person who lawfully had possession of the thing before it was seized. This means that you may be entitled to have property returned to you even if you are not the lawful owner. For example, you do not own property that you borrow or rent but because of the agreement you have with the owner, you have lawful possession of it.

It’s important to remember that the law requires the Commissioner of Police to make reasonable inquiries and efforts to locate persons claiming to be entitled to possession of a certain property and facilitate the disposal or return of that property. You are entitled to insist that your property be returned.

Documents you need now…

If police seize documents from you, unless they have an order from a Magistrate or a coroner, they must let you inspect the documents and take extracts or make copies of it. You must be allowed to inspect the document at any reasonable time and from time to time. While this provision relates to documents, it also encompasses computers that store documents. This provision can be helpful if computers or paperwork relating to your business have been seized.

If you or someone close to you has had property seized and would like to discuss arrangements for the return of that property, please contact our Brisbane criminal lawyers today.

by Jones + Associates

Judicial Review

The Judicial Review Act 1991 (Qld) enables a person to challenge the legality of administrative decisions such as decisions made by Government Departments and agencies and Magistrates/Judges.

A Judicial review is effectively an appeal whereby a person seeks to challenge the legality of a decision, as opposed to the merits of that decision. It is essentially a review of whether the decision was made properly rather than whether the outcome was correct.

The most common grounds relied upon in Judicial Reviews are:

• That a breach of the rules of natural judges happened in relation to the making of the decision;
• That the making of the decision involved an error of law;
• That the making of the decision was an improper exercise of power; and
• That there was no evidence or other material to justify the making of the decision.

Recently, Jones + Associates made a rare application challenging administrative decisions of two Queensland Magistrates. The Judicial Review was argued on the basis that both Magistrates made errors of law in making their respective decisions.

The relevant decisions were firstly, to refuse to allow cross-examination of witnesses at committal hearing and secondly, to conduct a committal hearing and commit the matters to trial in the District Court without the defendants’ consent.

When hearing the application before the Supreme Court of Queensland, Her Honour Chief Justice Holmes accepted our argument and ultimately our application was successful. Her decisions were published and can be found at Atherton & Anor v Eaton & Ors [2019] QSC 66.

An application for Judicial Review can be made with respect to an array of decisions including:

• Parole Bard decisions
• Decisions made by a board constituted by legislation (Eg Harness Racing Board)
• Decisions made by adjudicator pursuant to legislation (Eg Building and Constructions Industry Payments Act)
• Queensland Building and Construction Commission decisions
• Administrative decisions made by a court/tribunal

Should you be aggrieved by an administrative decision or wish to obtain advice in relation to Judicial Reviews, you should contact Criminal lawyer Brisbane on (07) 3229 3166.

by Jones + Associates

Have You Been Charged with Driving Without a Licence?

In Australia, driving isn’t an entitlement or a right. It is a privilege and a responsibility that shouldn’t be taken lightly. That’s why everyone needs a licence to do it.

But sometimes even honest, law-abiding citizens make mistakes. And in some cases, people just don’t think the rules apply to them. So they end up driving without a valid licence. But what happens if they get caught? Here’s what you need to know about being charged with driving without a licence.

When can you be charged with unlicensed driving?

In Queensland, you can be charged with unlicensed driving if the police catch you behind the wheel and:

• you have never had a licence at all;
• your licence is expired;
• you are driving with the wrong type of licence;
• a doctor has declared you medically unfit to drive;
• you gave up your licence voluntarily;
• your licence has been temporarily suspended.
• A court has disqualified you from holding a licence for a period of time

The penalties for driving without a licence

The punishment that will be imposed if you are convicted of driving without a licence will depend on the specific circumstances of your case. At most, you can be sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and 60 penalty points.

, and within this context, it is also important to note that an infringement notice won’t be issued in your case if:

• You are interlock driver (an alcohol ignition interlock is a breath test device linked to the ignition system of a vehicle) whose licence was not reinstated after a disqualification period for drink driving; or
• you are an interlock driver who didn’t have a valid Queensland driver’s licence  when the offence occurred and your interlock period has not ended; or
• you are an interlock driver whose Queensland driver’s licence had expired more than a month before the offence and your interlock period has not ended.

How your punishment is determined

If you have been convicted of driving without a licence and you are a repeat offender or a disqualified driver, the court weighs several factors when deciding how you should be punished. These typically include:

• The entirety of your case including any aggravating and mitigating circumstances;
• the public interest;
• your criminal and traffic records (if any);
• relevant information provided to the court about your medical history, mental  or physical impairment or physical ability;
• if you were driving without a licence during the commission or attempted commission of another offence, and the type of offence;
• any additional matters of interest to the court.

Driving with a suspended licence

Driving while your licence is suspended is also classified as unlicensed driving. Your licence could be suspended for a short time if you have accumulated too many penalty points for excessive speeding or for failing to pay certain fines. If you were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, your licence may also be subject to immediate suspension pending the determination of the matter.

In any case, you are not allowed to drive while your licence is suspended. If you are caught driving with a suspended license, you will face harsher penalties than other types of unlicensed driving.

Your punishment will be based on the specific circumstances of your case. In other words, it will depend on why your licence was originally suspended. If it was suspended for failure to pay certain court-ordered fines, you could receive anywhere between a one to six-month license disqualification. If it was suspended because you accumulated too many penalty points, or engaged in excessive speeding, you could lose your licence for six months. All of these situations can also carry the maximum fine of 40 penalty units or imprisonment of up to one year.

If you are caught driving on an immediate suspension your punishment could be a two to five-year licence disqualification, a maximum fine of 40 penalty units, and a prison sentence of up to one year.

Driving with a recently expired licence

A ‘recently expired licence’ can be legally classified as one that lapsed less than a year prior to the commission of the offence; or as one that was rescinded (as a result of a physical or mental ailment that renders you unable to drive) less than a year prior to the commission of the offence.

If you have been charged with driving on a recently expired driver’s licence, a police officer may grant you a permit that allows you to drive to a specific location where you can safely store your vehicle.

Keep in mind that to be valid, this permit must:

• Be in an acceptable form;
• indicate the infringement notice number;
• state the duration, which cannot exceed 24 hours, for which it is issued;
• stipulate the conditions, if any, on which it is issued.

If you have been charged with driving without a licence, it is important to get sound legal advice as soon as possible. Contact our Brisbane traffic Lawyers today.

by Jones + Associates

What is a Conviction & How Can I Prevent it From Being Recorded?

Everyone knows that if you are found guilty of a crime, you’re convicted of the offence. Convictions, unsurprisingly, have serious ramifications and can potentially follow you for the rest of your life, regardless of your court imposed punishment. If a conviction is recorded it can affect you when applying for jobs and prevent you from travelling. Not all convictions, however, need be recorded. Below, we discuss non-recorded convictions and what that may mean for you.

Penalties and Sentences Act 1992

The Court is granted the discretion to not record a conviction by Section 12 of the Penalties and Sentences Act of 1992, even when the person in question has been found guilty and sentenced by the Court. When exercising this discretion, the Court will look at a variety of factors in determining whether or not the individual circumstances warrant leniency.

Factors that Influence Discretion

Nature of Offence: The type of crime for which you’ve been found guilty will play a role in the discretion of the Court, with minor offences more likely to be non-recorded than major offences.

Age & Character: The offender’s age and character will be taken into account. Because the goal of the criminal justice system generally revolves around fairness and rehabilitation, young offenders and those with no prior history with the criminal justice system are more likely to receive leniency, as they are more likely to resume behavior as law-abiding, productive members of society. This isn’t to say that older offenders will always have their conviction recorded, especially if they have a clean or minor record. It is important to remember that anyone with a clean or minor record has the right to request that their conviction not be recorded, even if they are not excused by youthful indiscretion.

Impact: When determining whether or not to record a conviction, the Court will also look at the potential consequences that a criminal record will have on the offender. In particular, they estimate the impact on the offender’s economic security, social wellbeing, and ability to find appropriate employment. However, it is important to note that merely asserting that a recorded conviction will increase the difficulty of finding a job may not be enough to inspire the Court to exercise leniency. The Court would rather deal in specifics so a letter from an employer or a list of criteria from the offender’s chosen career would be necessary to support this argument.

Disclosure

If you are not able to prevent your conviction from being recorded, you will be required to disclose this conviction in many circumstances, most notably when you are applying for jobs or travelling out of the country for work. There are other times, though, when you are not required to disclose.

Magistrates Court: If your conviction was in the Magistrates Court, you will no longer be required to disclose this conviction when: the conviction was at least five years ago; the term of imprisonment was only 30 months or less (or there was no term of imprisonment); you have completed any other court order; you have not committed any other offence within the five-year period; and no exceptions apply. If you meet all of these requirements, you will not be required to disclose and it will likely be unlawful for any other person to disclose it as well.

District or Supreme Court: Unlike a conviction in Magistrates Court, a conviction in a District or Supreme Court has a much longer lapse period. In order for your conviction to be spent so that you no longer have to disclose it: 10 years must have passed and you were not convicted during that time; you served a term of imprisonment 30 months or less (or were not assigned a term of imprisonment); no exceptions apply; and you have complied with and completed any other order of the court.

Preventing your conviction from being recorded can be imperative if you are hoping to keep your professional and personal life on track. Contact our Criminal Lawyers Brisbane today so that you have a professionally trained advocate to argue on your behalf.

by Jones + Associates

What are Your Rights under Criminal Law?

Thanks to TV shows and pop culture, many people believe they understand how the criminal justice system works. Police shows, procedural dramas and legal adaptations tend to create a false sense of familiarity with the criminal justice system in the average person. But while loose cannon cops and lawyers who bend the rules make good television fodder, they have very little in common with the realities of police-work and legal professionalism. If you find yourself caught within the criminal justice system, it is important to remember that you have rights.

Arrest

When being arrested, there are three procedural steps that officers are required to follow. The officer must tell you that you are under arrest and briefly explain why, and you must either voluntarily surrender to the officer or you will be taken into custody through force. Police in Queensland do not have to “read you your rights”, and though you do have the right to remain silent, you are still required to inform the arresting officer of your name and address in order to avoid additional charges. Once arrested, you will escorted by the arresting officer to a police station or watch-house to be processed and await court or given bail.

Warrants

The police are not required to have a warrant in order to arrest you. If they have a reasonable suspicion that you are breaking the law, have broken the law, or are about to break the law, they have the power to arrest you as a reasonable necessity, because of the type or seriousness of the offence, or in order to:

• stop you from breaking more laws;
• discover your identity;
• ensure a court appearance;
• obtain or retain evidence;
• prevent the creation or destruction of evidence;
• prevent witness harassment or interference;
• protect your safety and the safety of others;
• prevent your escape; or
• hold you for questioning.

The threshold for demonstrating reasonable necessity is generally low and the police will likely be allowed to arrest you without a warrant. It is in your best interests to calmly comply, ask for a lawyer as soon as possible, and remain silent except for providing your name and address, until your lawyer arrives.

What Are My Rights?

You have the right to remain silent and wait for the arrival of your lawyer. You cannot be formally interviewed until the police inform you that you have a right to a lawyer, a family member, or friend. Importantly, you must remember that the police are not allowed to coerce a confession out of you by making false promises or threats. As mentioned above, the police must inform you that you are being arrested and explain to you why.

Additionally, you have the right to go to court for a bail application at the earliest reasonable opportunity, and if you are not taken straight to court, you have the right to ask the police for bail. Remember that without an arrest you do have the right to refuse a request to come to the police station, but be careful to handle the situation calmly and respectfully or else risk an actual arrest or additional charges.

Being Arrested for Questioning

When the police have a reasonable suspicion that you have committed an indictable offence, they are able to detain you for a reasonable amount of time in order to conduct an investigation and/or question you about the offence. Police may detain you for up to eight hours, but can only question you for four hours out of the eight. If they want to keep you longer, the police must petition a magistrate or justice of the peace to question you for a further period. During this time period, you still have the right to remain silent after sharing your name and address.

We are here to help

At Jones + Associates, we are dedicated to securing the best possible outcomes for our clients. Contact us criminal lawyers Brisbane today.

by Jones + Associates

The Drink Driving Guide

As statistics graphically illustrate, drink driving remains an international problem. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, in 2015 more than 50% of all traffic deaths on South African roads were attributed to alcohol consumption. In the same year, drinking and driving also contributed to more than one-third (34%) of all road deaths in Canada, 31% of all motor vehicle fatalities in the United States and 30% of all fatal road accidents in Australia.

In the report’s Executive Summary, however, the WHO also notes that the adoption and enforcement of “good laws” is “effective in changing road user behaviour on key risk factors for road traffic injuries”, including drink driving. And to that end, authorities throughout Australia continue to crack down on motorists that engage in the dangerous activity.

With that in mind, here’s what you should know about the consequences of drink driving in Queensland.

If you are caught, you will receive a summons to appear in the Magistrates Court closest to where the offence occurred. The Magistrate will make a determination about the penalties, which range from a fine and disqualification to imprisonment. The type of punishment imposed will depend on several factors including:

• Your breath or blood alcohol concentration at the time of the offence;
• your driving record (traffic history);
• whether you have any prior convictions for drink driving.

The four blood alcohol concentration limits used in Queensland

In Queensland, four classifications pertaining to blood alcohol concentration are used to determine which penalty or penalties will be imposed for a drink driving offence. These are: the no alcohol limit, the general alcohol limit (0.05 to 0.09), the middle alcohol limit (0.10 to 0.149), and the high alcohol limit (over 0.15).

The no alcohol limit prohibits certain drivers from having any alcohol in their blood at all while operating vehicles on Queensland roads. This applies to you if you are a learner or if you have a P1, P2 or a restricted licence (regardless of your age). It also applies to anyone driving a truck, taxi, limousine, tow truck or tractor.

The commission of a DUI offence of drink driving while over the no alcohol limit usually results in the disqualification of your ability to obtain or hold a Queensland driver’s licence for at least three months upon conviction. Furthermore, you are ineligible to apply for a drink driving work licence if a Magistrate finds you guilty of this offence.

The general alcohol limit, which is a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05%, applies to most Queensland drivers. Specifically, it applies to anyone who has a valid Queensland driver’s licence and is exempt from the no alcohol limit.

If you are convicted of a DUI drink driving offence in which your blood alcohol concentration exceeds the general alcohol limit, your ability to obtain or hold a Queensland driver’s licence will automatically be disqualified for at least one month. However, you may be able to apply for a drink driving work licence if you meet certain criteria.

There are more serious consequences upon conviction for a DUI drink driving offence when your blood alcohol concentration exceeds the middle alcohol limit, or 0.10%. In this case, your ability to obtain or hold a Queensland driver’s licence will be disqualified for at least three months, but you may be able to get a drink driving work licence.

Finally, if your blood alcohol concentration exceeds the high alcohol limit of 0.15% when you are behind the wheel, you will be charged with the most serious DUI drink driving offence.

Because there is a legal assumption that you are under the influence of alcohol or liquor based on the extreme reading in these circumstances, this offence is sometimes called “driving under the influence of liquor” (or “UIL”).

Conviction for this type of offence brings the harshest penalties, beginning with a disqualification of your ability to obtain or hold a Queensland driver’s licence for at least six months. Since there is no maximum period for disqualification, your licence could be disqualified for a year or more, depending on your specific circumstances. If this isn’t your first conviction, you may even face probation, community service or jail time. In any case, you will not be able to get a drink driving work licence.

Understanding the drink driving ‘ranges’

If you are charged with “low-range drink driving” in Queensland, it means your blood alcohol concentration (“BAC”) was above the general alcohol limit (0.05%) but below the middle alcohol limit (0.10%).

A low-range drink driving conviction brings a maximum penalty of three months imprisonment and/or a 14 Penalty Unit fine for a first offence.

If you commit and are convicted of a second offence within five years, you face up to six months imprisonment and/or a 20 Penalty Unit fine. Conviction for a third or subsequent offence within five years brings a maximum penalty of nine months imprisonment and/or a 28 Penalty Unit fine.

As we have already noted, you will be unable to obtain or hold a Queensland driver’s licence if you’re convicted on this type of drink driving charge. The length of your disqualification can range from one to nine months for a first offence, and three to 18 months if you’re convicted for a second and/or subsequent offence.

If the Magistrate imposes more than one period of disqualification (which may happen if you’re a repeat offender), you must serve these cumulatively. In other words, one term won’t begin until the previous term ends.

You should also be aware that if you have multiple convictions for low-range drink driving, you must have an Alcohol Ignition Interlock device attached to your nominated vehicle for 12 months once you regain your driving privilege.

If Queensland authorities catch you driving a vehicle with a BAC greater than the “middle alcohol limit” (0.10%), but below the “high alcohol limit” (0.15%), you will likely be charged with “mid-range drink driving.” This is the second most serious drink driving offence under Queensland law, punishable by a maximum of six months imprisonment and/or a 20 penalty unit fine for a first offence.

The commission of and conviction for a second mid-range drink driving offence within five years can also result in up to six months imprisonment and/or a 20 penalty unit fine. However, the commission of and conviction for a third or subsequent offence in that period brings a maximum penalty of nine months imprisonment and/or a 28 penalty unit fine.

When you’re convicted of a mid-range drink driving offence for the first time, the Magistrate will automatically disqualify you from holding or obtaining a Queensland driver’s licence for three to 12 months. Repeat offenders face immediate disqualification for three to 18 months.

The stipulations that apply to multiple disqualification periods and Alcohol Ignition Interlock devices for low-range drink driving convictions also apply to mid-range drink driving convictions.

Lastly, if you have a BAC greater than 0.15% percent or the “high alcohol limit” while behind the wheel, you will be charged with “high-range drink driving”. As we have already noted, this is the most serious drink driving offence under Queensland law. As such, the maximum penalty upon conviction is nine months imprisonment and/or a 28 Penalty Unit fine – and that’s just for a first offence.

The maximum penalty for a second, or subsequent, offence within five years is 18 months imprisonment and/or a 60 Penalty Unit fine. Furthermore, Queensland law mandates that a sentence that “includes imprisonment” is imposed if you are convicted of a third, and any subsequent, offence within five years of the first. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will serve out your entire jail sentence, it is likely that will be the case.

Whenever it finds someone guilty of high range drink driving, a court must disqualify them from holding or obtaining a Queensland driver’s licence for at least six months for a first offence; at least one year for a second; and at least two years for any subsequent offences. Although it rarely does so, the Magistrate (or Magistrates Court) is also authorised to disqualify someone absolutely (meaning they can never hold or apply for another Queensland driver’s licence) – even for a first high range drink driving offence.

The stipulations pertaining to multiple disqualification periods for low-range and mid-range drink driving offences also apply to those resulting from high-range drink driving offences.

If you’re convicted of high-range drink driving, you must also have an Alcohol Ignition Interlock device affixed to your nominated vehicle for 12 months after your licence is restored.

Understanding what affects your blood alcohol concentration

Clearly the easiest way to avoid running afoul of Queensland’s drink driving laws, and to avoid hurting or killing yourself or others, is to refrain from having any alcohol at all when you know you will be driving. If you insist upon having “one or two drinks” with family or friends, it is also important that you understand the factors that can affect the way in which your body processes alcohol – and therefore your BAC. These factors include but are not limited to your:

• Age
• Drinking habits (consumption)
• Gender
• Body type
• Medication
• Fitness

The amount of alcohol in the adult beverage(s) you’ve consumed, whether or not the beverages are carbonated, and whether or not you’ve eaten can also influence your BAC.

Seeking legal assistance

Being charged with any drink driving offence in Queensland is a serious matter. With your driving privileges and even your freedom potentially at stake, you should never leave anything to chance. Contact our DUI Lawyers Brisbane for legal advice and representation today.