Hornsby high range drink driving case study: a high range matter with a collision
In this Hornsby high range drink driving case study, Boorman Lawyers appeared at Hornsby Local Court on a high range drink driving offence with a reading of 0.173. The client crashed into a parked car. No other people were involved, but there was significant damage and the cars were written off, which Josh Boorman says was certainly an aggravating feature.
What happened
The client, who lives in North Sydney, had been out for drinks in the city. Our lawyer says he did the right thing all night: he caught Ubers into the city and an Uber home. But while he was waiting for his Uber home, he was assaulted by two men. Police arrived and arrested them, and he was left in shock and confusion.
After getting home, he made the very poor decision to drive to get some late-night food. A short distance down the road he crashed into the parked car. Police came, breath tested him and charged him. Josh submitted that the assault, combined with his level of intoxication, led to that decision.
An exemplary background
The client completed the Traffic Offenders Program. Our lawyer describes him as a very successful, highly motivated man from Jordan who has lived in Australia for six or seven years, owns several small supermarket businesses and is highly qualified. He provided good references and had never before come to the attention of the authorities, in Australia or anywhere else.
A balancing act
Josh says the court had to balance the client’s exemplary character and community contribution against a high range offence that was highly aggravated by the accident. He notes that a first high range offence carries a maximum of 18 months in jail, so a term of imprisonment, including one served in the community as an intensive correction order, was within range.
The outcome
Because of the steps he had taken, his good character and record, and the circumstances that led to the offence, the court kept to the standard penalties:
- a 7-month disqualification, backdated to the offence;
- a $1,700 fine and a conviction; and
- the mandatory 24-month interlock program.
Our lawyer describes the client as very happy and relieved, and able to move forward and learn from a very out-of-character mistake.
Key general information (NSW)
General information only, not legal advice, as at October 2026. Every case turns on its own facts.
- Drink driving (PCA) offences: In New South Wales most drink driving charges are “prescribed concentration of alcohol” (PCA) offences under the Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW).
- The broad penalty picture: As one example, Transport for NSW lists the maximum court-imposed penalty for a first high range PCA offence as a fine of $3,300 and up to 18 months’ imprisonment (as at October 2026).
- The Alcohol Interlock Program: A zero alcohol limit applies to all interlock drivers, and a person who receives an interlock order but does not enter the program is disqualified for 5 years.
- Intervention programs and deferred sentencing: Fines in NSW are expressed in penalty units, and the Sentencing Council notes that a penalty unit is currently $110.
- The court process: Drink and drug driving charges in NSW are usually dealt with in the Local Court.
Further reading and related videos
Boorman Lawyers has more on appearing at Hornsby Local Court, the NSW high range drink driving guideline judgment and NSW alcohol interlock laws. Its Sydney site covers drink driving matters across Sydney courts.
On this site, see a Hornsby mid range case involving a police car and a Manly high range case after hitting parked cars, or browse all NSW and drink driving videos.
For people who are preparing to plead guilty without a lawyer, DIY DUI’s guide to drink and drug driving charges at Hornsby covers the local court and plea process. (DIY DUI is a self-help program for people preparing their own guilty plea. It is not legal representation and is not part of Boorman Lawyers.)
