Facing a Drink Driving Offence? Sydney Criminal Lawyers Can Help
If you’ve been convicted of drink driving, you’re not alone, as drink driving is responsible for 1 in 7 fatal crashes on New South Wales roads. While these statistics are unfortunate, an important step in this process is securing the services of highly reputable criminal lawyers that can assist with the court proceedings you face.
Expert legal providers will have vast experience in dealing with similar cases and will utilise the best industry practices to secure you the most favourable outcome possible in any court hearings you may face. Read on to learn more about how criminal defence lawyers can help you navigate the challenges of court proceedings and get you back on track!
What Is Drink Driving?
Drink driving offences occur when a driver is found to be in control of a vehicle with a blood alcohol reading of above 0.005. Regarded as a criminal offence, drink driving charges will be present on your criminal record if your criminal defence lawyers fail to defend your case successfully and you are found guilty of these crimes.
New South Wales state authorities have broken drink driving offences into five separate categories, with each dependent on the BAC range of the driver. These BAC ranges are:
Novice range (0.00 to 0.019)
Special range (0.02 to 0.049)
Low range (0.05 to 0.079)
Mid-range (0.08 to 0.149)
High range (0.15 and above)
For fully licensed and unrestricted drivers within New South Wales, both Novice and Special range BAC readings are within the legal ranges, and instead relate to drivers holding Learners and Provisional licenses or restrictive conditions for which a zero-tolerance range is held for BAC readings.
What Penalties Might I Face?
The penalties you may face for drink driving offences relate directly to which of the five categories your BAC reading falls within, while also accounting for the circumstances surrounding the individual case.
For offences related to novice, special, and low-range BAC readings, first-time offenders may face a $2,200 fine and a license disqualification of 3-6 months. However, if the case is a subsequent offence within 5 years, the driver may face a $3,300 penalty, a license disqualification, and a 12-month interlock program will be mandated.
First-time offenders of mid-range offences may face a $2,200 penalty and up to 9 months imprisonment, alongside a license disqualification of up to 6 months with an interlock program. Subsequent convictions within 5 years of a prior offence however may face a $3,300 penalty, 12 months imprisonment, a 6-9 month license disqualification and the interlock program will be extended to two years.
The most serious offences, high range drink driving see first-time offenders face fines up to $3,300, up to 18 months imprisonment, up to a year of license disqualification and a 2-year interlock program. Subsequent offenders instead face fines of up to $5,500, 2 years imprisonment, an identical 12-month potential license disqualification, and a 4-year interlock program, double that of first-time offences.
How Can Criminal Defence Lawyers Help Me?
The severe punishments that these offences garner account for the disastrous effects that these actions may impose, but Sydney criminal lawyers can help you through these difficult times, providing individualised services to secure you the best possible outcome. The most reputable criminal defence lawyers will use their vast experience and expertise to ensure every possible avenue is explored to minimise your charges or prove your innocence.
Criminal lawyers are also important in helping you to understand the complex legal processes you may face, simplifying the terminology and courses of action that may be used in your case. The best criminal defence lawyers will also be crucial in reducing the stress that you face at this time, working around the clock to devise the most suitable defence for your case. Liaising with the most important stakeholders in the process, these legal professionals take the pressure away from you, calling upon their knowledge and expertise to work towards securing you the best possible outcome.
Crucially, enlisting the assistance of the most reputable Sydney criminal lawyers will also ensure you have access to an ongoing source of support. Those legal experts with vast experience in the field will understand the fears and concerns that you may be experiencing, and will deliver their services with empathy and understanding.
Expert legal providers will also be able to offer their services at any time and location that is most convenient to you and will offer flexible payment plans to further minimise your stress in what is undoubtedly a difficult time. Most crucially, criminal lawyers can call on years of experience and expertise to secure you the best possible result in your court proceedings and work towards securing your freedom.
Get In Touch With Sydney Criminal Lawyers Today!
If you have been charged with a drink driving offence, don’t hesitate in reaching out to the most reputable and qualified Sydney criminal lawyers that you can place your trust in.
Helping you understand the charges you may face and devising the best possible defences to minimise these penalties, criminal defence lawyers will resolve your case and deliver you the best possible results.