NEW SOUTH WALES

Albury DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Albury Local Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Albury Local Court sits at 515 Olive Street and its registry also handles Corowa, Holbrook and Tumbarumba. New South Wales law applies, even if you hold a Victorian licence. We assist clients at Albury Local Court by appearing at court mentions, guilty pleas and sentencing hearings, preparing comprehensive sentencing submissions and character reference material, advising on licence disqualification periods and mandatory alcohol interlock rules under New South Wales law, and preparing Section 10 non-conviction applications.

Court: Albury Local and District Court, 515 Olive Street, Albury NSW 2640. Phone 1300 679 272. Registry 9am–1pm and 2pm–4pm, Monday to Friday.
Law: Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW). Your reading sets the range and the penalty.
Interlock: mid range, high range, DUI and refusal offences carry a mandatory interlock order unless the court makes an exemption order.

New South Wales law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

Call 1300 941 900 Make an enquiry about legal representation

What's on this page

Where will my Albury drink driving case be heard?

In short: At Albury Local Court, 515 Olive Street, unless your court attendance notice names Corowa, Holbrook or Tumbarumba. Those smaller courts sit on set days and share the Albury registry. Check the court and date printed on your notice and do not assume it moves.

The official Local Court list gives Albury's postal address as PO Box 64, Albury NSW 2640, phone 1300 679 272, fax (02) 6023 8585, registry hours 9.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 4.00pm, and telephone hours 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Audio visual link (AVL) facilities are available.

The same PO Box serves the circuit courts. Corowa (corner of Church and Queen Streets) is shown as open on Thursdays in week 4 of the month. Holbrook (Albury Street) is open on Thursdays in week 3 of odd months and Tumbarumba (Bridge Street) on Thursdays in week 3 of even months. If your notice says one of those courts, the case starts there. An adjourned or defended matter is sometimes listed back at Albury, but only the court can make that change.

Does it matter that I live in Victoria or hold a Victorian licence?

In short: The offence happened in New South Wales, so NSW law decides the charge and the penalty. A NSW court cannot cancel a Victorian licence itself, but a NSW disqualification usually flows through to your home licence. Plan as if you will not be able to drive on either side of the river.

Albury and Wodonga work as one city, and many people charged at Albury live, work or are licensed in Victoria. The Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) applies to driving on NSW roads, whoever you are. The magistrate applies NSW ranges, NSW maximum penalties and NSW disqualification periods. Victorian rules about licence cancellation, eligibility and interlocks do not decide your Albury case.

What happens to the Victorian licence afterwards is a separate administrative question for the Victorian licensing authority. Do not drive on the assumption that a NSW disqualification "does not count" in Victoria. Raise the cross-border point with us early so the court material can explain your travel between the two states.

What does my reading mean under NSW law?

In short: The prescribed concentration of alcohol (PCA) offences are set by your reading. Novice drivers commit an offence with any alcohol, special category drivers from 0.02, and everyone from 0.05. Mid range starts at 0.08 and high range at 0.15.

The ranges are in Part 5.1 of the Road Transport Act 2013, with the offences in s 110:

Novice range: more than zero but under 0.02, for learner and provisional licence holders and unlicensed drivers;
Special range: 0.02 to under 0.05, for special category drivers such as heavy vehicle, bus, taxi and dangerous goods drivers;
Low range: 0.05 to under 0.08;
Mid range: 0.08 to under 0.15;
High range: 0.15 or more.

Driving under the influence (s 112) is different. It does not depend on a set reading. Police must prove that alcohol or a drug affected your driving. Our guide to NSW drink driving offences sets out each offence in more detail.

What are the maximum penalties at Albury?

In short: For a first offence, a novice, special or low range charge carries a fine of up to $2,200. Mid range adds up to 9 months' prison. High range and DUI carry up to $3,300 and 18 months. The limits rise for a second offence within 5 years.

A penalty unit is $110 (Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 17). The maximums for each range are:

Charge	First offence (maximum)	Second or subsequent (maximum)
Novice, special or low range PCA	20 penalty units ($2,200)	30 penalty units ($3,300)
Mid range PCA	$2,200 and/or 9 months' prison	$3,300 and/or 12 months' prison
High range PCA	$3,300 and/or 18 months' prison	$5,500 and/or 2 years' prison
Driving under the influence	$3,300 and/or 18 months' prison	$5,500 and/or 2 years' prison

Maximums are the ceiling, not the usual result. The magistrate places your case within the range by looking at the reading, the manner of driving, the reason you drove and your record. For high range charges, sentencing in NSW is also guided by a Court of Criminal Appeal guideline judgment, explained on our high range guideline judgment page. Full figures for every offence are on our NSW drink driving penalties page.

Will I be disqualified and for how long?

In short: If you are convicted, yes. Disqualification is automatic under RTA s 205. A first low range offence means 6 months, which the court can reduce to 3. From the mid range up, the court must instead make an interlock order unless it grants an exemption.

The periods for a first offence where no interlock order applies are:

novice, special or low range: automatic 6 months, minimum 3 months;
mid range (exemption order made): automatic 12 months, minimum 6 months;
high range or DUI (exemption order made): automatic 3 years, minimum 12 months.

The court can order a period shorter than the automatic one, down to the minimum, but not below it. It can also order a longer period. NSW has no work or hardship licence that lets you keep driving during a court-ordered disqualification for drink driving. That is why the size of the period, and whether there is a conviction at all, matter so much.

When does the interlock apply to me?

In short: For a first offence, a mid range, high range, DUI or refusal conviction is a mandatory interlock offence. A second offence within 5 years brings every range in, including novice and low range. You serve a shorter disqualification, then drive only with an interlock fitted.

Under RTA ss 209 to 212, the court makes an interlock order: a short period off the road followed by a minimum time on an interlock licence. On a first offence that means:

mid range: 3 to 6 months' disqualification, then at least 12 months with an interlock;
high range, DUI or refusal: 6 to 9 months' disqualification, then at least 24 months with an interlock.

You can be exempted only on narrow grounds, such as having no access to a vehicle to fit the device or a medical condition that stops you using it. Long distances between Albury and Holbrook or Tumbarumba are not, on their own, a ground. If you choose not to enter the program after an interlock order, you stay disqualified for 5 years. The Transport for NSW Alcohol Interlock Program page covers costs and providers, and our NSW alcohol interlock guide explains the court side.

Can I drive between the charge and the court date?

In short: For a mid range, high range or refusal charge, police can suspend your NSW licence on the spot, and the suspension usually lasts until the case is finished. For a first low range charge you may get a penalty notice and a 3-month suspension instead of going to court.

Police can give an immediate suspension notice when you are charged with a more serious drink driving offence (RTA s 224). If that happens, you cannot drive in NSW from that moment. The time you spend suspended is usually taken into account when the court sets the disqualification, so keep the notice.

For a first novice, special or low range offence, police may issue a penalty notice with a fine and a 3-month licence suspension, without a court case or conviction (TfNSW). You can elect to take a penalty notice to court instead, but that has risks as well as possible benefits, so get advice before you do.

Is a section 10 possible for an Albury charge?

In short: Sometimes. A section 10 dismissal or conditional release order without conviction means no conviction and no disqualification. It is not available if you received a section 10 for a similar major offence in the previous 5 years (RTA s 203), and it is uncommon at higher readings.

Section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 lets the court find the offence proved without recording a conviction. The magistrate considers your character, record, age and health, how trivial or serious the offence was, and any extenuating circumstances. A low reading, a short drive, no crash and a clean record help. Showing that a conviction would cause harm out of proportion to the offence, such as losing a driving job, can also be relevant.

There is no automatic entitlement. Our page on no-conviction outcomes for drink driving in NSW explains how the court weighs these factors.

What about drug driving charges at Albury?

In short: Driving with an illicit drug present (RTA s 111) does not need proof that you were affected. Cannabis, methylamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine are the drugs tested at the roadside. A first offence carries a fine of up to $2,200 and an automatic 6-month disqualification, with a 3-month minimum.

The roadside oral fluid test is followed by a second sample, and a laboratory analysis confirms the result. A first offence may be dealt with by penalty notice in some cases. Driving under the influence of a drug is a separate, more serious charge under s 112. Prescribed medicines can be relevant, but the presence offence is about the listed illicit drugs. See our NSW drug driving penalties guide for the figures and defences.

What should I bring to Olive Street?

In short: Your court attendance notice, the police facts if you have them, your licence or suspension notice, printed character references, a Traffic Offenders Program certificate if you have one, and documents about work, family or health.

Useful material for a sentence at Albury includes:

a completed Traffic Offenders Program certificate;
references that mention the charge and that the writer has read the police facts;
an employer letter explaining your duties and any travel across the border or along the Hume corridor;
evidence of caring responsibilities or medical appointments that depend on a car;
counselling or treatment records, if alcohol or drug use is part of the picture;
a short handwritten or typed letter from you to the court.

Arrive early. Lists can run for much of the day, and you must stay until your matter is called. Our NSW DUI court process guide explains each stage from the first mention to sentence.

Can the charge be defended?

In short: Yes, if there is a genuine issue. Common issues include whether you were driving, the timing of the breath analysis, whether police followed the testing rules, and whether a drug result was properly obtained. A plea of not guilty leads to a hearing on a later date.

Most people charged at Albury plead guilty, but nobody should do so without checking the evidence first. For example, a breath analysis generally must be done within two hours of the driving, and there are rules about where and how a test may be required. Read our NSW drink driving defences guide.

Which courts are near Albury?

Corowa Local Court – corner of Church and Queen Streets, about 55 km west along the Riverina Highway; shares the Albury registry
Finley drink driving charges – corner of Denison and Ulupna Streets, about 130 km north-west; also handled through the Albury registry
Cooma Local Court DUI – Snowy Monaro, a long drive east via the Alpine Way

Every NSW court is listed in our NSW courts we attend directory. Other traffic charges, such as driving while suspended, are covered on our NSW suspended driving page.

Albury DUI Case Reviews And Court Insights

These short videos help explain what happens in court, how sentences are approached and the types of results that may be achievable when you are properly represented by Albury DUI Lawyers.

For more video content you can visit BoormanLawyers.tv where we share regular updates on New South Wales drink driving and drug driving cases.

NSW DUI case review 18 June 2024 Case review from June 2024 discussing a New South Wales drink driving sentence, the material presented on behalf of the driver and how the Magistrate approached penalty. Published 2024-06-18.

NSW DUI case review 28 April 2024 Case review from April 2024 covering a combined traffic matter and the importance of preparation, traffic programs and references in achieving a favourable result. Published 2024-04-28.

What clients say

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Albury drink driving FAQs

How do I contact Albury Local Court?

The official list gives phone 1300 679 272 (8.30am to 4.30pm) and fax (02) 6023 8585. The registry at 515 Olive Street is open 9.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday. Post goes to PO Box 64, Albury NSW 2640.

Will I go to jail for a first drink driving offence at Albury?

Prison is available for mid range, high range, DUI and refusal charges, but it is generally kept for serious cases, such as a very high reading, a crash, or a poor record. Most first offences are dealt with by a fine, a disqualification or interlock order, or a section 10.

Does a penalty notice in the last 5 years make this a second offence?

Yes. A drink or drug driving offence dealt with by penalty notice in the 5 years before the new conviction counts as an earlier offence (RTA s 9). That can mean higher maximums and an interlock order even for a low range charge.

Can I get a licence to drive for work while disqualified?

No. NSW does not have a work licence for drink or drug driving disqualifications. If an interlock order is made, you can drive with an interlock once the off-road period ends, which for many people is the practical way back to work.

Can someone else appear for me at Albury?

A lawyer can appear for you on many mentions. For a sentence, the magistrate usually expects you to be in court, and you should plan to attend in person unless we tell you otherwise.

Do I have to finish the Traffic Offenders Program before court?

It is not compulsory, but finishing it before sentence lets the magistrate see the certificate. If you cannot finish in time, the court may adjourn the case for you to complete it.

Sources and date checked

Sources and references for this page, checked 20 Oct 2026.

Local Court of NSW – Court locations A (Albury Local and District) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Local Court of NSW – Court locations C, H, T (Corowa, Holbrook, Tumbarumba – Albury registry) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) – current version (ss 9, 108, 110, 111, 112, 203, 205, 209–212, 224) — checked 20 Oct 2026
Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) – s 10; s 17 (penalty unit $110) — checked 20 Oct 2026
NSW Government (Transport for NSW) – Drink and drug driving penalties — checked 20 Oct 2026
NSW Government (Transport for NSW) – Alcohol Interlock Program — checked 20 Oct 2026

This page is general information about New South Wales law only. It is not legal advice. Every matter turns on its own facts.

Albury Local Court — court details

Albury Local Court

Street: 515 Olive Street, Albury NSW 2640
Postal: PO Box 64, Albury NSW 2640
Phone: 1300 679 272
Registry hours: Registry 9.00am – 1.00pm and 2.00pm – 4.00pm; telephone 8.30am – 4.30pm
Days open: Monday to Friday
Facilities: Audio visual link (AVL) facilities

➜ Get directions

Local Court of NSW, Court locations – A (localcourt.nsw.gov.au), saved 19 Oct 2026. These are the court registry's details, not Boorman Lawyers office details. Check your court papers for your listing time and courtroom.

NSW Traffic Law

Choose your NSW traffic law topicNSW

Guides for New South Wales traffic law matters.

NSWDrink Driving OffencesRead guide →NSWDrink Driving PenaltiesRead guide →NSWDrink Driving DefencesRead guide →NSWDrug Driving Offences & PenaltiesRead guide →NSWHigh Range PCA Guideline JudgmentRead guide →NSWLicence Suspension AppealRead guide →NSWAlcohol Interlock LawsRead guide →NSWNo Conviction Drink DrivingRead guide →NSWTraffic Offenders ProgramRead guide →NSWDUI Court Process GuideRead guide →NSWDangerous DrivingRead guide →NSWDisqualified DrivingRead guide →

Enquire about legal representation

Call 1300 941 900 or make an enquiry about legal representation.

What to have ready

Court & next listing date: Which court is on your paperwork and when your matter is listed.
Charge or reading (if known): Tell us the charge or reading if you have it — you do not need your full police facts yet.
Work & driving needs: Let us know if you rely on your licence for work or family responsibilities.

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