A serious matter at Lismore
In this Lismore drink driving case study, Boorman Lawyers appeared at Lismore Local Court on a middle range drink driving matter with a reading of 0.146, at the higher end of the middle range. It involved a single-vehicle accident, and it also breached orders the client had received for other charges earlier that year at the same court.
What happened
The client had been out with friends and drank far too much. He walked back to a friend’s place, but his friends had an argument and he felt uncomfortable and wanted to leave. He got into his car, drove only a few hundred metres around the corner and crashed into a power pole.
He called his mum, who came with his brother to pick him up, and they left the scene. As they were leaving, they saw a police car. He and his brother flagged it down, and our lawyer, Joshua Boorman, says that, probably to his own detriment, he was overly cooperative. Police did not know about the crash. He took them back to the scene, said he was the driver and had been drinking, and a final reading of 0.146 was taken at the police station.
Aggravating features
He was on his P1 licence, which carries a zero alcohol limit, and there was a significant crash. Thankfully no one else was involved or hurt. It was very late at night, with no pedestrians or traffic around, so the risk to others was reduced, but our lawyer says it was still a serious matter.
The earlier charges
Earlier in 2022, he had been before the same court on what Josh describes as anti-social behaviour charges. Of eight charges, four (including resisting arrest and assaulting police) were dealt with by conditional release orders for two years. This new offence breached those orders, so he could be re-sentenced on the old charges.
Our lawyer submitted that no action should be taken on the breaches. The earlier offences were of a different nature, although alcohol was the common element.
Lismore drink driving case study: how Joshua Boorman prepared
Our lawyer says the lenient outcome was probably due to the work the client put into preparing his case:
- He completed the Traffic Offenders Program.
- He had a mental health care plan prepared by his doctor, with a referral for alcohol counselling.
- He provided good letters of support.
He had also suffered financially because his car was written off, and he does not earn a large income.
The outcome
The court reduced his disqualification to the minimum of 3 months, backdated to the day of the offence. He must complete the mandatory 12-month interlock and received a $300 fine, with a conviction recorded. The court took no action on the breaches of the earlier conditional release orders.
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 mid range PCA offence as a fine of $2,200 and up to 9 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.
- What happens when a CRO is breached: A conditional release order (CRO) can be made with or without a conviction, for up to 2 years.
- 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 Lismore Local Court, NSW drink driving penalties and NSW alcohol interlock laws. Its NSW DUI site covers drink driving matters across the Northern Rivers and regional NSW.
On this site, see a Lismore repeat drug driving case and a Liverpool mid range case with a collision, 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 Lismore 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.)
