Written and reviewed by Steven Brough, founder — appearing at this court since 2010 · Last updated 5 July 2026
fixed fee, drink driving plea
$2,990 with a work licence
4.9 from reviews on Google
The price we quote is the price you pay — fixed, in writing.
Your matter is run by one of our Richlands regulars — including founder Steven Brough, Russell and Will. They appear at Richlands Magistrates Court, and the surrounding courts, every week.
We act for clients across Algester, Inala, Durack, Doolandella, Wacol, Darra, Oxley, Carole Park and Ellen Grove — and everywhere else across Brisbane’s south-west with a date at this court.
Steven Brough · Founder · Queensland Law Society member · 25+ years in Queensland courts
Steven founded the firm in 2010 and has spent 25+ years in Queensland Magistrates Courts — the Brisbane courts, Richlands among them, week in and week out. The approach he built runs through every matter our lawyers take on here: start early, do the things magistrates actually give credit for, and have your lawyer put your story properly, in person, to a bench they know.
In your matter that looks like this: your lawyer reads the charge documents and your traffic history, checks how the reading was taken and that the paperwork stacks up, then maps a preparation timeline back from your court date — a QTOP course (we’re a proud sponsor), character references, and medical or counselling material where alcohol is a factor.
4.9 on Google
Under 0.15, held an open licence, weren’t driving for work, and no conviction, disqualification, suspension or cancellation in the last 5 years? You can apply for a work licence — but only before you’re sentenced. It covers work driving only, never personal. Our fixed fee including the application is $2,990.
The minimum disqualification depends on your reading — one month at low range, three at mid range, six at high range — with no upper limit in any band, plus a fine. In Queensland the court cannot decline to disqualify; the only question is how long, and that’s what we argue down.
Low range: police suspend you 24 hours, then you keep driving until court. Mid or high range: suspended from the day you’re charged right through to court. Caught driving during that suspension? That’s a separate charge — minimum 2-year disqualification.
If you’re mid or high range and can’t wait weeks off the road until your court date, a section 79E application — lodged within 21 days of the charge — can get you a temporary licence until your matter is finalised. It needs detailed affidavit material, so move quickly.
The disqualification starts the moment the magistrate imposes it. That means you cannot drive away from the court — not home, not to work. Plan a lift or public transport for the day, because once you’re disqualified, getting behind the wheel is a fresh offence.
You can be charged even if you never drove — if you had control of the car, like sitting in the driver’s seat with the keys near you, with no intention of driving. It often catches people waiting to be picked up, looking for something, or sleeping it off. “In charge” carries the idea of being responsible for the car until you hand that responsibility to someone else — and it’s read broadly, though very limited exceptions exist.
You don’t have to have driven on a road to be charged. The legislation says “on a road or elsewhere” — and “elsewhere” plainly covers private property, car parks and driveways. It doesn’t matter where the car was: your own driveway counts.
Provisional drivers are on a zero alcohol limit — even a tiny amount in your system results in a charge. P-platers are also exposed to higher disqualifications: a first-time offender faces a minimum 3 months off the road, and can’t apply for a work licence.
Refusing or failing to provide a breath or blood specimen is treated as a high-range charge — same seriousness, and no work licence available. “Failing” is broader than outright refusal: an insufficient sample can count. There are limited medical defences, backed by a certificate.
Mid and high range drivers — and anyone with a second charge in 5 years — must fit an interlock for 12 months once eligible to relicence. The court can’t waive it; it’s a Transport requirement, subject to a few narrow exemptions like remote-location or medical grounds.
You don’t just start driving when the disqualification ends. You reapply through Queensland Transport, sit on a probationary licence for a year (zero limit, 4 demerit points), and complete a course — online for first offenders, in person for repeat offenders.
Drink driving is a criminal offence, but a conviction — if one is recorded — goes on your traffic history, not your criminal history, and shows there for 5 years. A police background check won’t see it. But it can still affect overseas travel and transport-industry jobs, which is why we argue against recording one wherever it’s realistic.
General information only, not legal advice. Every matter turns on its own facts — call 1300 952 255 for free, specific advice.
Knowing what the building looks like takes half the nerves out of the morning. Photography isn’t allowed inside courtrooms, so these are AI illustrations built from public imagery.
The court sits on the corner of Old Progress and Archerfield Roads in Richlands, with a large car park and Richlands train station a short distance away.
One secured entrance for everyone, with airport-style screening. Free parking on-site and on the surrounding streets, or take the train to Richlands station.
Address
Registry phone
Parking
Plead guilty and be sentenced (only wise if you’re fully prepared), adjourn to get advice and preparation time — the most common first step — or plead not guilty, and the court orders a brief of evidence and sets a hearing date.
The document police gave you — it states your charge, your court and your date.
The police prosecutor’s brief: their version of the facts, your reading certificate and your history.
A short procedural appearance — your first court date is one. Nothing final has to happen.
Moving your matter to a later date — routinely granted once, to get advice or prepare.
The long table facing the magistrate. Prosecutor on one side, you and your lawyer on the other.
A free court lawyer for people at risk of jail — generally not available for drink driving matters.
The court can decide not to record a conviction — it still counts as a penalty, but doesn’t show on standard checks.
The period you cannot drive, set by the magistrate. It starts the moment you’re sentenced.
The state agency that collects court fines — payment plans are available, so the fine never has to be paid on the day.
These are the questions clients ask us most before a Richlands court date. Anything else — the call is free: 1300 952 255.
The minimum disqualification depends on your reading — one month at low range, three months at mid range, six months at high range — and in every case the maximum is much higher. Everything below is aimed at one thing: landing you as close to that floor as your matter allows — and, where your reading is under 0.15, keeping you on the road with a work licence.
Your story first: job, family, why the licence matters — and anything that explains (without excusing) that night. It all ends up in front of the Brisbane magistrate.
We obtain the police brief — the QP9 and the analyst’s certificate — and check the facts and how the reading was taken before you plead to anything. If something is wrong, we find it here.
A QTOP course — it runs over 4 days, and we’re a proud sponsor — plus character references, and medical or counselling help where alcohol is a factor. We tell you exactly what to get, and when.
If your reading is under 0.15, you hold an open licence and you’ve been disqualification-free for 5 years, a work licence can keep you driving for work. It must be applied for before you are sentenced, so we sort it early — total fixed fee including the application is $2,990.
What we say to the magistrate is built around you — your reading, your history, your need to drive — and aimed squarely at the best realistic outcome: the shortest disqualification, the lowest fine, and the conviction question argued.
You won’t have to find the words: your lawyer puts your story to the bench, in person. Then reinstatement dates, interlock steps where they apply, and what to do while off the road — in writing, before we say
Your story first: job, family, why the licence matters — and anything that explains (without excusing) that night. It all ends up in front of the Brisbane magistrate.
We obtain the police brief — the QP9 and the analyst’s certificate — and check the facts and how the reading was taken before you plead to anything. If something is wrong, we find it here.
A QTOP course — it runs over 4 days, and we’re a proud sponsor — plus character references, and medical or counselling help where alcohol is a factor. We tell you exactly what to get, and when.
If your reading is under 0.15, you hold an open licence and you’ve been disqualification-free for 5 years, a work licence can keep you driving for work. It must be applied for before you are sentenced, so we sort it early — total fixed fee including the application is $2,990.
What we say to the magistrate is built around you — your reading, your history, your need to drive — and aimed squarely at the best realistic outcome: the shortest disqualification, the lowest fine, and the conviction question argued.
You won’t have to find the words: your lawyer puts your story to the bench, in person. Then reinstatement dates, interlock steps where they apply, and what to do while off the road — in writing, before we say
All of it included in the $2,750 fixed fee ($2,990 with a work licence application) — quoted in writing before you commit.
Low range (0.05–0.099)
Our fixed fee
$2,750 · $2,990 with work licence
Ranges are indicative — high range disqualifications typically run up to 20 months where the reading is very high or an accident occurred. We’ll give you a specific, honest estimate on the phone. More on high range →
4.9 on Google
