Responding to a drink driving charge

Changes to drink driving penalties in NSW were introduced in May 2019. From this date, if you are caught drink driving in NSW, at any level, police may suspend your licence immediately. 

Responding to a drink driving charge

Find information about responding to a drink driving charge at:

• LawAccess NSW Representing Yourself: Driving offences and crime Responding to a charge - find out about how to respond to a driving offence, including checking what you have been charged with, negotiating with the police, pleading guilty or not guilty and going to court.

Character references

Find out about character references at:

• LawAccess NSW Representing Yourself: Driving offences and crime Instructions for writing a character reference and Sample character reference 
• The following three sample character references are based on real references and were originally published in the Guilty Your Honour: representing yourself in NSW local courts when charged with drink driving 3rd edition by Helen Walsh, Walsh Publishing, 2006:
  • Example 1 - Paul Mobbs on behalf of Felix Roonan
  • Example 2 - Pam Johnson on behalf of Margaret Jones
  • Example 3 - PJ Hammond on behalf of John Chance

More information

Find more information about drink driving penalties at:

• NSW alcohol and drug driving offences 
• NSW drink and drug driving penalties
• Centre for Road Safety – drink driving penalties