Drink driving in Sydney is best managed by a lawyer to ensure that you get ideal results. Whether defending yourself or making a claim against another, a legal professional can guide you through the process and give you the insight you need to navigate this space. The legal arena can be challenging and daunting for many without understanding, but with our experienced help, you can have a strategic and educated approach to your case. Read on to find out a bit more about this type of case.
What Is The Offence By Law?
Drink driving is the term used to describe the offence of operating a vehicle while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol. This is seen as a serious traffic offence and should not be taken lightly by anyone, especially if you are being accused. Instead of receiving jail time, you can face a significant fine, a good behaviour bond, or a community service order. There will, however, still be a conviction on your criminal record. You also have to deal with the risk of potentially losing your driver’s licence if convicted. This can be massively impactful and even potentially put your livelihood at risk if you rely on your car to work. If it is your second or subsequent offence, you will most likely face a heftier fine and a further disqualification of your licence. If the case is severe and results in injury, there is a definite potential to receive prison time.
What Are The Categories Of Offence
When you are charged with this issue, your offence is placed into one of three categories. In NSW, there are low range PCA, mid-range PCA and high range PCA offences. PCA refers to the “prescribed concentration of alcohol” in your system and demonstrates the level of intoxication you are impacted by. This is based on the reading the police take using a breathalyser. A low range PCA is a blood alcohol content above 0.05 and less than 0.08. A mid-range PCA is a blood alcohol content above 0.08 and less than 0.15. A high range PCA is a blood alcohol content of above 0.15. Typically, when you are charged for drunk driving, you will likely have been breathalysed twice. This will happen both at the roadside and the police station on arrival. It is the second reading that is used as the basis of the charge. The higher the PCA, the more serious the penalty you face, and the greater the fine and disqualification period. As stated before, the level of your punishment will depend on the details of your case and history.
Drink driving in Sydney is a severe offence and is best handled by a skilled lawyer who understands the essential elements under scrutiny. Contact us today to find out more about these services.