Traffic Offences

 

   DANGEROUS DRIVING  

The offence of dangerous driving was enacted under s42 of the Road Transport (Safety & Traffic Management) Act 1999 (the Act). Under the Act, dangerous driving is defined as driving on a road or road related area, negligently, furiously, reckless or at a speed or in manner dangerous to the public. The penalties are as follows:

 
Drive in a Manner Dangerous to the Public (Dangerous Driving)
Penalties                                                                        First offence       Second or subsequent offence   Maximum court imposed fine                                             $2,200.00             $3,300.00                                   
Maximum gaol term                                                          9 months              12 months                                 
Minimum disqualification                                                   12 months             2 years                                     
Maximum disqualification                                                  Unlimited               Unlimited                                  
Disqualification in the absence of a specific court order*       3 years                 5 years                                     
*(Automatic period imposed)     

 
Drive at a Speed Dangerous to the Public (Dangerous Speeding)
Penalties                                                                       First offence        Second or subsequent offence  
Maximum court imposed fine                                            $2,200.00              $3,300.00                                   
Maximum gaol term                                                         9 months               12 months                                 
Minimum disqualification                                                  12 months              2 years                                     
Maximum disqualification                                                  Unlimited               Unlimited                                  
Disqualification in the absence of a specific court order*      3 years                  5 years                                     
*(Automatic period imposed)     
 
 
The Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) (the Crimes Act) also creates a number of offences of dangerous driving where a specific injury is caused to another person. These are as follows:
 
Dangerous Driving Causing Grievous Bodily Harm
A person is guilty of this offence under section 52A(3) of the Crimes Act if the vehicle driven by the person is involved in an impact occasioning grievous bodily harm to another person and the driver was, at the time of the impact, driving the vehicle:
 
a)      under the influence of intoxicating liquor or of a drug, or
b)      at a speed dangerous to another person or persons, or
c)      in a manner dangerous to another person or persons.



Penalties                                                                                                                                                    
Dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm:                         Maximum gaol term 7 years                            
Aggravated dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm:        Maximum gaol term 11 years                          
 
 
Dangerous Driving Causing Death
A person is guilty of this offence under section 52A(1) of the Crimes Act where a vehicle driven by the person is involved in an impact occasioning death of another person and the driver was, at the time of the impact, driving the vehicle:

a)      under the influence of intoxicating liquor or of a drug, or
b)      at a speed dangerous to another person or persons, or
c)      in a manner dangerous to another person or persons.
 
Penalties                                                                                                                                                    
Dangerous driving causing death:                                               Maximum gaol term 10 years                          
Aggravated dangerous driving causing death:                              Maximum gaol term 14 years                          

Upon conviction you may also be required to pay money as restitution for any loss or damage caused. 

As both Acts indicate, dangerous driving charges can carry severe penalties depending on the offence that has been committed. Not only can you loose points from your licence, be disqualified from driving for a lengthy period of time, but you could also be required to serve a period of community service or a term of imprisonment, depending on what form of dangerous driving you have been charged with. 

If you have been charged with dangerous driving, please feel free to contact us for some advice or to book an appointment, the sooner you do, the more time we will have to assist you in preparing for your matter and possibly defend your matter or even have the charge/s reduced to a lesser charge/s, and in turn, reduce the severity of the penalties that could be imposed by the court for your offence.

 


 

SPEEDING

 


 
DRINK DRIVING
 
Drink Driving Offences, or more commonly known as PCA (Prescribed Concentration of Alcohol) or DUI (Driving under the influence of alcohol) offences, are "Major Offences" under the law of New South Wales, and if you have been charged with such an offence, you could be facing heavy fines, extensive periods of licence disqualification and even periodic terms of imprisonment, depending on the circumstances under which the offence was committed at the time.

At Escobar and Associates Solicitors we understand that being charged with such an offence can be a very stressful and daunting experience, especially if it’s the first time you will be attending court.
We also understand the importance of maintaining your driving licence to assist you and your family in carrying out your daily needs, such as driving to do the groceries, seeing your doctor or picking up your children from school, or even to earn an income by driving the taxi, making deliveries or to travelling to and from your place of work.

We will assist you by representing you in court and guiding you on how to prepare for your matter, what courses to complete and what references to obtain, thereby, minimising your chances of losing your licence and in some, even more serious cases, from lowering your fine and even going to jail.

 
Below is a brief summary of the drink driving offences and a table of the penalties imposed in the State of New South Wales:

Novice Range PCA: An offence committed by a person who is the holder of either a learner licence or provisional licence who drives a motor vehicle on a public road with a blood alcohol concentration above .00 and below 0.02.

Special Range PCA*: An offence committed by a special category driver who drives a motor vehicle on a public road with a blood alcohol concentration above .02 and below 0.05.

*A special range PCA offence is defined by the Road Transport (Safety & Traffic Management) Act 1999 (the Act), as an offence committed by a driver who is categorised as one of the following:

 
  •      A person who is the holder of either a learner licence or provisional licence;
  •      A person is not the holder of a licence for one of the following reasons:
 
(i) the person's driver licence is suspended or has been cancelled, or

(ii) the person has been disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver licence, or

(iii) the person's application for a driver licence has been refused, or

(iv) the person has never obtained a driver licence, or

(v) the person has no authority to drive that motor vehicle in New South Wales.
 
Low Range PCA: An offence committed by a person who drives a motor vehicle on a public road with a blood alcohol concentration above .05 and below .079.
 
Mid Range PCA: An offence by a person who drives a motor vehicle on a public road with a blood alcohol concentration above .08 and below .149. 
 
High Range PCA: An offence committed by a person who drives a motor vehicle on a public road with a blood alcohol concentration above .150. 
 
Refuse breath analysis / fail to provide a sufficient sample of breath:  An offence committed by a person who drives a motor vehicle on a public road and when required to submit to breath analysis either refuses or fails to provide a sufficient sample. 
It is not a defence to refuse breath analysis on the basis that you wanted to seek legal advice before providing a sample for breath analysis.
 
DRINK DRIVING PENALTIES IMPOSED IN THE STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES  
 
Special Range PCA & Low Range PCA
Penalties                                                                    First offence            Second or subsequent offence  Maximum court imposed fine                                         $1,100.00                  $2,200.00                                   Maximum gaol term                                                             -                              -                                          Minimum disqualification                                               3 months                   6 months                                   Disqualification in the absence of a specific court order*   6 months                  12 months                                 
*(Automatic period imposed) 
 
 Mid Range PCA
Penalties                                                                    First offence           Second or subsequent offence   Maximum court imposed fine                                         $2,200.00                 $3,300.00                                    Maximum gaol term                                                      9 months                  12 months                                  Minimum disqualification                                               6 months                  12 months                                   Disqualification in the absence of a specific court order*  12 months                 3 years                                      
*(Automatic period imposed)
 
High Range PCA
Penalties                                                                     First offence          Second or subsequent offence   Maximum court imposed fine                                          $3,300.00                $5,500.00                                    Maximum gaol term                                                       18 months               2 years                                       Minimum disqualification                                                12 months               2 years                                       Disqualification in the absence of a specific court order*    3 years                   5 years                                      
*(Automatic period imposed)

Please feel free to contact us for some advice or even to book an appointment, as the sooner you do, the more time we will have to assist you in preparing for your matter.