What counts as high range: Queensland high range drink driving penalties
In this Queensland high range drink driving penalties video, Josh Boorman explains the penalties and the offence itself, which is also described as driving under the influence of liquor or drugs, or UIL. He explains that the category covers any reading of 0.150 or higher.
Josh describes high range as the most serious category of drink driving in Queensland. He stresses that every matter is dealt with case by case. One person might be just on the cusp of 0.150 at a random breath test; another might be close to 0.3 and extremely intoxicated, with children in the car or involved in an accident. The court takes the full range of facts and circumstances into account.
A first offence
Josh explains that a first offence means no prior offences of a similar nature in the last five years. He says the maximum penalty is nine months in prison, but generally a person will not receive jail time for a first high range offence unless there is something significantly aggravating about it. Jail is a sentence of last resort, but it is at the court’s disposal.
According to Josh, the maximum financial penalty is 28 penalty units. The court must disqualify the licence for a minimum of six months and cannot give less, but it can increase the period at its discretion, up to a lifetime ban or indefinite disqualification. He notes that this is rarely seen for a first-time high range offender.
No work licence
Josh explains that for any high range offence, whether a first, second, third or later offence, a person with a reading of 0.150 or more is ineligible for a work licence. He describes this as black and white: there is no persuading the court, because the law says that a person cannot apply above that reading.
A second offence
For a second high range offence within five years, meaning there is a prior drink driving matter in the last five years, Josh says the maximum penalty is 18 months in prison and 60 penalty units. The minimum disqualification is 12 months, and the court cannot go lower, but it can disqualify anywhere from one year up to an indefinite disqualification.
A third offence and mandatory imprisonment
For a third offence within five years, where there are two prior drink driving offences in the last five years, Josh says the maximum is 18 months’ imprisonment and 60 penalty units, with a minimum of two years’ disqualification. The court can go higher, but two years is the absolute minimum.
He highlights an important rule for very high risk repeat offenders. Where a person has three high range offences within five years, he explains, the law says the court must impose a term of imprisonment. That does not always mean full-time custody in jail: it can be a suspended sentence, or a sentence with immediate parole on the day of court. But the court must hand down a period of imprisonment of some sort, so the stakes are very high.
Key points from this Queensland high range drink driving penalties video
Josh’s message is that the stakes rise sharply once a reading reaches the high range category: a longer minimum disqualification, no work licence, and much heavier penalties for repeat offending within five years.
Key general information (QLD)
General information only, not legal advice, as at October 2026. Every case turns on its own facts.
- What the official sources say: For a first offence at 0.15 or more, TMR lists a minimum disqualification of 6 months and up to 9 months’ imprisonment.
- What happens to a Queensland licence before court: For a low range charge (over 0.0 but under 0.10), the licence is generally not suspended immediately until court, unless an earlier drink driving charge is still pending or certain other conditions apply.
- Work licences: Queensland has a “restricted licence”, commonly called a work licence, under section 87 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995.
- Sentencing law: Alongside the disqualification set under the road transport laws, the general sentencing law in Queensland is the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld).
Further reading and related videos
Boorman Lawyers has more on Queensland drink driving penalties, work licence eligibility after drink driving and Queensland alcohol interlock laws. Its Queensland DUI site covers drink driving matters across Queensland.
On this site, see a Wynnum high range case at 0.157 and a Ipswich low range case, or browse all Queensland and drink driving videos.
For people who are preparing to plead guilty without a lawyer, the DIY DUI QLD plea program covers the 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.)
