MID RANGE DRINK DRIVING (PCA)
The offence of mid-range PCA is committed by a person who drives a motor vehicle on a public road with a blood alcohol concentration from 0.08 to 0.149. If you are convicted by a Court, which is the most likely outcome in these cases, the maximum penalty for a first offender is imprisonment for 9 months and/or a fine of up to 30 penalty units ($3,300).
Upon conviction, the minimum licence disqualification is for 6 months and the mandatory interlock period for 12 months. However, if you are exempted from driving with an interlock device, then the automatic disqualification is 12 months.
The maximum penalties for repeat offenders, following a conviction, is a maximum penalty of up to 12 months imprisonment, a fine of up to 50 penalty units ($5,500), minimum licence disqualification for 9 months, and mandatory interlock program for 24 months. However, if you are exempted from an interlock device, then the automatic disqualification is 3 years.
Table of Penalties for Mid-Range Drink Driving:
Penalty
First offence
Second or subsequent offence
Maximum court- imposed fine
$2,200
$3,300
Maximum prison term
9 Months
12 Months
Minimum disqualification
$2,200
$3,300
Maximum disqualification
N/A
N/A
Automatic disqualification (disqualification period that applies in the absence of a specific court order)
12 Months
3 Years
Immediate licence suspension
Yes
Yes