What penalty will I get for drink or drug driving in Queensland?
No two matters are identical — but every drink and drug driving charge carries a mandatory minimum disqualification, and knowing yours takes a lot of the fear out of what comes next. Use the estimator to see the minimum time off the road for your charge, whether a work licence is possible, and whether an interlock applies. Treat the results as a guide, not a prediction: almost everything above the minimum is argued at court, and that’s where a lawyer changes the outcome.
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Common questions
Drink driving penalties, answered
How long will I lose my licence for drink driving?
It depends on your reading. As a guide, the mandatory minimum disqualification (for a first offender with open licence) is one month at low range (0.05–0.099), three months at mid range (0.10–0.149) and six months at high range (0.15 and above). The estimator above gives the minimum for your charge.
Do I lose my licence immediately?
For low range, police suspend you for 24 hours and you keep driving until court. For mid and high range, your licence is suspended from the day you’re charged right through to your court date. Refusing a test is treated as high range.
Will I have to get an interlock?
Mid and high range drivers, and anyone with a second drink driving charge within five years, must fit an alcohol ignition interlock for at least 12 months once eligible to relicence. The court can’t waive it — it’s a Transport requirement.
Are the penalties different for P-platers?
Yes. Provisional and learner drivers are on a zero alcohol limit, so any reading is a charge. A first offence carries a minimum three-month disqualification, and P-platers can’t apply for a work licence.
Is this estimate accurate for my case?
It’s a general guide based on Queensland’s mandatory minimums. Your reading, traffic history, whether there was a crash, and how your matter is presented all affect the result. For an assessment of your actual situation, call us on 1300 952 255. See our drink driving and high range drink driving pages.
Where can I learn more?
For a full explanation of your charge and how we run these matters, see our drink driving, high range drink driving, drug driving and work licence pages — or call 1300 952 255 for free advice about your situation.
This tool provides general information about Queensland traffic law only. It is not legal advice, does not create a lawyer–client relationship, and cannot account for every circumstance. Always confirm your situation with one of our lawyers. See our Disclaimer and Privacy Policy.
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