NEW SOUTH WALES

Bathurst DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Bathurst Local Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Bathurst Local Court in Russell Street hears drink and drug driving charges from Bathurst and nearby Central West towns. We assist clients at Bathurst 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: Bathurst Local and District Court, Russell Street, Bathurst NSW 2795. Phone 1300 679 272. Registry 9am–4pm, Monday to Friday.
Licence: a conviction means a minimum disqualification set by law; mid range and above means an interlock order.
P-platers and learners: any alcohol over zero is an offence (novice range), and there is no work licence in NSW.

New South Wales law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

Call 1300 941 900 Make an enquiry about legal representation

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What's on this page

What happens to your licence after a Bathurst drink driving charge?

It happens in four stages. Each stage has a decision point, so it helps to know them all at the start.

Stage 1 – The roadside

First novice, special or low range offence: police may give you a penalty notice. You pay the fine ($722 at the date checked) and your licence is suspended for 3 months. There is no court case and no conviction (TfNSW). A penalty notice still counts if you reoffend within 5 years (RTA s 9(2A)).
Mid range, high range, DUI or refusal: police can suspend your licence immediately until the court case is finished (s 224).
Any other charge: you keep driving until court unless your licence is otherwise suspended.

Stage 2 – Before court

If police suspended your licence, you can appeal to the Local Court. The court will only lift or change the suspension if there are exceptional circumstances, it does not consider the circumstances of the offence, and the appeal must be made before the charge is decided (s 268(5)–(6)). See our page on immediate licence suspension appeals.

Stage 3 – Sentence at Bathurst Local Court

If you are convicted, the disqualification is set by the Road Transport Act:

Offence (first offence)	Without interlock	With an interlock order
Novice, special or low range	6 months (minimum 3)	Not applicable
Mid range	12 months (minimum 6), if exempted	3–6 months, then at least 12 months on an interlock
High range, DUI (alcohol), refusal	3 years (minimum 12 months), if exempted	6–9 months, then at least 24 months on an interlock

For mid range and above, the court must make either an interlock order or, on narrow grounds, an exemption order (ss 209–212). In the right case, the court can instead deal with the matter under section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, without a conviction and without a disqualification. That is not possible if you had a section 10 for a similar offence in the last 5 years (RTA s 203). Tell the court how long you have already been off the road under any suspension.

Stage 4 – Getting your licence back

When the disqualification ends, you apply to Transport for NSW to be relicensed. With an interlock order, you hold an interlock licence and drive only a vehicle fitted with an approved interlock for the minimum period. If you do not enter the program, you are disqualified for 5 years (TfNSW Alcohol Interlock Program). After two offences within 5 years, you must also pass the Driver Knowledge Test. Our NSW alcohol interlock guide has the practical steps.

Is there a work licence in NSW?

No. Unlike Queensland, NSW has no restricted or work licence for a drink driving disqualification. That is why the decisions before and at sentence matter so much in Bathurst, where people drive to work, between towns or to farms. The options that reduce the licence impact are a section 10, a disqualification at the lower end of the range, and, for interlock offences, the interlock order itself. See our guide to no-conviction outcomes in NSW.

What if you are a student or on P plates?

Bathurst is home to university students and young drivers. As a learner or provisional driver you are a novice driver: any alcohol above zero is an offence, and under 0.02 is novice range (RTA ss 107–108). It is a defence for a novice range charge if the alcohol did not come from drinking an alcoholic beverage (other than for religious observance) or from a substance taken to consume alcohol (s 110(9)). A higher reading is charged in the higher range. After a disqualification you must reapply for a licence, and further licence requirements may apply.

What situations lead to Bathurst charges?

Charges can arise in different ways:

leaving pubs, clubs, restaurants or sporting events in town;
big event periods such as the Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama, when police are highly visible;
early-morning residual alcohol before work;
driving between Bathurst, Orange, Oberon, Blayney and Lithgow on the Great Western and Mitchell Highways;
roadside drug testing, covered in our NSW drug driving guide.

The full range of charges, including refusing a sample and DUI, is explained in our NSW drink driving offences guide, and the fines and prison maximums are in our NSW drink driving penalties guide.

How should you prepare for sentence at Bathurst?

Read the police facts and raise any inaccuracies early.
Complete a recognised Traffic Offenders Program where suitable.
Write a short, genuine letter that accepts responsibility.
Get references that mention the offence.
Collect employer evidence if you need a licence for work.
Start counselling or treatment if alcohol or drug use is an issue.
Prepare a transport plan for the disqualification period: how you will get to work, study and appointments without driving.

Which courts are near Bathurst?

Lithgow drink driving matters – corner Bridge and Mort Streets, about 53 km
Katoomba Local Court DUI – 5–11 Civic Place, about 75 km
Penrith drink driving charges – 64–72 Henry Street, about 110 km
Smaller courts nearby: Blayney (Adelaide Street, open Thursdays) and Oberon (Queen Street, open Fridays) sit on limited days; Orange Local Court is in Lords Place.

All NSW courts are listed in our NSW courts we attend directory.

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Bathurst drink driving FAQs

Where is Bathurst Local Court and when is it open?

Bathurst Local and District Court is in Russell Street, Bathurst NSW 2795 (PO Box 32). The official list gives registry hours of 9.00am to 4.00pm and phone hours (1300 679 272) of 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Courtroom 1 has AVL facilities.

Can I keep driving until my court date?

Only if police did not suspend your licence. For mid range, high range, DUI and refusal charges, police can suspend it immediately, and the suspension continues until the charge is decided unless the Local Court lifts it on appeal.

Will a section 10 stop me losing my licence?

Yes. If the court deals with the matter under section 10, there is no conviction and no disqualification. But a section 10 is not available if you had one for a similar offence in the last 5 years, and it is rarely given for higher readings.

Does an interlock exemption mean I can drive?

No. An exemption order means you serve a longer disqualification without the interlock. It does not let you drive during the disqualification.

I paid a penalty notice two years ago. Does that matter?

Yes. If you are convicted of another drink or drug driving offence within 5 years, the earlier penalty notice makes the new offence a second offence (RTA s 9(2A)), with higher penalties and interlock.

Sources and date checked

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

Local Court of NSW – Court locations B (Bathurst, Blayney) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Local Court of NSW – Court locations O (Oberon, Orange) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) – current version for 1 October 2026 (ss 9, 107, 108, 110, 203, 205, 209–212, 224, 268) — checked 20 Oct 2026
Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) – s 10 — 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.

Bathurst Local Court — court details

Bathurst Local Court

Street: Russell Street, Bathurst NSW 2795
Postal: PO Box 32, Bathurst NSW 2795
Phone: 1300 679 272
Registry hours: Registry 9.00am – 4.00pm; telephone 8.30am – 4.30pm
Days open: Monday to Friday
Facilities: Audio visual link (AVL) facilities in Courtroom 1 · Local and District Court

➜ Get directions

Local Court of NSW, Court locations – B (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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