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. 

Driving offences

Find information about driving offences from Legal Aid NSW | LawAccess NSW. 

Character references

Find out about character references at:

• Legal Aid NSW | LawAccess NSW Character references - find information about how to write a character reference and when to get one. Sample character references are included.  
• 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