DRINK DRIVING
There are a variety of traffic offences in Western Australia including, drink
driving, failing to hold a valid driver’s license, failing to stop or report an
accident, dangerous driving, dangerous driving causing death, grievous bodily
harm or bodily harm, reckless and careless driving.
Drink Driving
Some drivers are subject to a 0.02% blood alcohol limit when driving (e.g. P-
plate holders). Most drivers in Western Australia are subject to a 0.05% blood
alcohol limit.
The penalties imposed with respect to exceeding the blood alcohol limit vary
according to the level of blood alcohol recorded and the number of similar
offences committed in the past.
You will automatically lose your driver’s license for any drink driving
conviction except for a first excess 0.05% offence (when you will be fined and
lose demerit points). If you are subject to a 0.02% limit you will lose your
license for any conviction for drink driving. Note that the court does not have
a discretion whether or not to impose the minimum disqualification period that
applies.
If you go to court and plead guilty to a drink driving charge where your
License will be disqualified it is important for you to organise alternative
transport to take you home as you will lose your license immediately on the
Court giving its order.
It is important to take drink driving and related offences seriously. It is
appropriate in many cases to seek legal advice. There are some circumstances
where you can be sent to prison for having offended.
The Court will give you 28 days to pay any fines imposed. If you need longer
you should go the Court Registry and ask for time to pay by instalments.
Table of penalties for drink driving offences
