Traffic Lawyers Cairns
Worried about losing your licence? A traffic charge is more than just a fine, it can threaten your job, your family, and your financial security.
Our expert traffic lawyers in Cairns are specialists in protecting your licence. Don't risk going to court alone.
Experienced Traffic Lawyers In Cairns
When your licence is on the line, you need a local expert. Our primary goal is to keep you on the road. We offer Fixed-Fee Pricing for most traffic matters so you know exactly what your defence will cost.
We are experts in:
- Work Licence Applications: We have a high success rate in preparing and arguing for work licences.
- Special Hardship Orders (SHO): For demerit point suspensions, we can help you apply to keep driving for work.
- Drink & Drug Driving Defence: We fight to minimise penalties and avoid convictions.
- Minimising Disqualification Periods: We know how to present your case to the Magistrate to argue for the best possible outcome.
With strict time limits on licence applications, you must act quickly. Contact us for clear advice today.
Drink & Drug Driving
Drink Driving Offences
A drink driving charge in Queensland carries a mandatory licence disqualification. Our goal is to protect your licence. We will review the police procedure, check the accuracy of the BAC reading, and prepare your case for the Magistrate. We are experts in assessing your eligibility for a work licence and will manage the entire complex application for you.
For comprehensive information and expert advice, view our drink driving defence services.
Drug Driving Offences
Queensland has a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy, meaning even the presence of a drug can lead to a charge. But a charge does not have to mean a conviction. We know how to challenge these charges, checking for errors in testing procedures. We fight to help you avoid a conviction and licence disqualification.”
To understand the nuances of these charges, explore our specialist drug driving defence.
Unlicensed & Disqualifying Driving
Driving without a licence or while you are already disqualified is a serious offence. The penalties are severe and can include large fines, a further 2-year disqualification, and even imprisonment.
You cannot risk just 'pleading guilty.' We can build a strong defence to minimise your penalty and, in serious cases, argue to keep you out of jail. If you've been caught, you must get legal advice before your court date.
Minor Offences
Don't just pay that high-range speeding fine. Pleading guilty to driving more than 40km/h over the limit results in an automatic 6-month licence suspension. Similarly, accumulating too many demerit points will lead to a suspension.
We can help. We can represent you in court for a high-range speeding charge to argue for the minimum penalty. We can also help you appeal a demerit point suspension by applying for a Special Hardship Order (SHO), allowing you to keep driving for work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. 1 : I’ve been charged with drink driving; is my licence automatically suspended?
Yes, but how long your licence is suspended for will depend on what you have been charged with. If you have been charged with drink driving and your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is less than 0.10 percent, then your licence will be suspended for 24 hours from the time you are charged. If you are charged with a more serious offence, then your licence can be suspended from the time you are charged until your matter is finalised in court.
Q. 2 : Am I eligible for a work licence?
Eligibility is very strict.
You may be eligible if:
1) You hold a current open QLD licence,
2) Your BAC was under 0.15,
3) You were not driving for work at the time, and
4) You have not lost your licence in the last 5 years.
You must apply at the time you are sentenced. You only get one shot. Contact us immediately to assess your eligibility.
Q.3: What is the difference between losing my licence for demerit points and being disqualified by a court?
A demerit point suspension is an administrative penalty from the Department of Transport. A court disqualification (for drink driving, etc.) is a criminal penalty handed down by a Magistrate. You cannot get a work licence for a court disqualification, but you can apply for a Special Hardship Order for a demerit point suspension.
Q.4: I was caught driving more than 40km/h over the limit. How serious is this?
This is very serious. It is not a simple fine. It’s a “high-range speeding” offence that requires a court appearance and comes with a mandatory 6-month licence suspension and a large fine. We can represent you in court to fight for the minimum penalty
Q.5: Do I really need a lawyer if I'm pleading guilty to a traffic offence?
This is the most critical time to have a lawyer. For a guilty plea, a lawyer’s job is to persuade the Magistrate to give you the lowest possible penalty. We know how to present your character, your need for a licence, and any mitigating factors. The investment in a lawyer almost always results in a shorter disqualification period and a smaller fine than you would get on your own.
Q.6: How do drink driving charges differ from drug driving charges?
Both are major traffic offences, but they have different testing procedures, legal definitions, and penalties. For example, drink driving penalties are based on your BAC reading, while drug driving involves a zero-tolerance approach to specific illicit substances. The rules for getting a work licence also differ significantly. You can find more detailed information on our specialist drink driving and drug driving pages.