A very high reading on the Gold Coast
In this Southport high range drink driving case study, Joshua Boorman appeared at Southport Magistrates Court on the Gold Coast on what he calls quite a serious high range drink driving offence. The reason it was so serious was the reading: 0.304, which Joshua describes as off the charts.
What happened
The client, a 35-year-old woman, had been going through significant mental health issues and had been using alcohol as a coping mechanism. After a highly stressful day at work, she bought a bottle of vodka at a shopping centre on the way home.
In the car park she had an extremely emotionally charged phone call with a relative and started drinking the vodka straight, alone in her car. That left her highly intoxicated. At one point she tried to drive and reversed out, making very minor contact with a loading bay bollard. She then froze. Members of the public came to check on her and realised how intoxicated she was.
She called her partner, who picked her up, and they left. Police were called, followed up at her address and found her highly intoxicated. She admitted drinking and driving and was taken to hospital, where a blood sample recorded the final reading of 0.304.
The seriousness of the matter
The collision with the bollard was very minor, and no one else was involved, but Joshua notes that the risk of something going wrong at that reading was extremely high.
Treatment and rehabilitation
It was disclosed that she had pre-existing mental health issues, including extreme anxiety and severe depression. Since the incident she had sought significant treatment from her GP and psychologist, was in ongoing counselling, and had been prescribed medication to deal with alcohol dependency. She was abstinent from alcohol and had completed the Queensland Traffic Offenders Program.
Joshua submitted that the offence was wildly out of character. She had no traffic record at all, which he describes as impressive for a 35-year-old, and no prior criminal history. But she was clearly in need of psychological and medical intervention, which she had now sought.
The outcome
She had already spent about 2 months off the road. Joshua asked that the matter be confined to a disqualification and a fine, and the magistrate agreed:
- a 10-month licence disqualification;
- a $1,200 fine; and
- no conviction recorded, after significant submissions about her work and disclosure requirements.
What this Southport high range drink driving case study shows
An extremely high reading is treated very seriously. Here, a clean history, genuine treatment for the underlying problem and abstinence allowed the court to keep the penalty to a disqualification and a fine without recording a conviction. Every case is different, and outcomes depend on the facts.
Key general information (QLD)
General information only, not legal advice, as at October 2026. Every case turns on its own facts.
- Drink driving offences: In Queensland, drink driving offences are set out in the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 (Qld).
- The broad penalty picture: For a first offence at 0.15 or more, TMR lists a minimum disqualification of 6 months, a maximum fine of $6,908 and up to 9 months’ imprisonment (as at October 2026; TMR notes fines rose by 3.5% on 1 July 2026).
- 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.
- Alcohol interlocks: According to TMR, the Alcohol Ignition Interlock Program applies to people convicted of “high-risk” drink driving offences.
- Sentencing and convictions: 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 appearing at Southport, no-conviction outcomes for drink driving in Queensland and Queensland alcohol interlock laws. Its Gold Coast site covers drink driving matters on the Gold Coast.
On this site, see a Southport high range crash case after a mental health struggle and a Mackay P-plate mid range case, or browse all Queensland 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 Southport 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.)
