NEW SOUTH WALES

Bega DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Bega Local Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Bega Local Court, on the corner of Gipps and Carp Streets, is the main court for the Bega Valley and runs the registry for the Eden and Bombala circuit courts. We assist clients at Bega 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: Bega Local and District Court, corner Gipps and Carp Streets, Bega NSW 2550. Phone (02) 6492 9300 or 1300 679 272. Open Monday to Friday.
Circuit courts: Eden and Bombala open on court sitting days only, with postal addresses c/- Bega Court House.
Law: NSW Road Transport Act 2013. A second low range offence within 5 years is a mandatory interlock offence.

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

How does a Bega drink driving charge play out? A worked example

Hypothetical example – not a real client or case. It shows how NSW law applies to a Bega Valley charge.

Alex works on a dairy farm outside Bega and starts early. After a birthday dinner in town, Alex sleeps for a few hours and drives to work before dawn. Police conducting random breath testing on the way stop Alex, and a breath analysis shows 0.062.

The charge. 0.062 is in the low range (0.05 to under 0.08), an offence under section 110(3) of the Road Transport Act 2013. The morning-after reading is still an offence; the law looks at the reading at the time of driving, not when the drinking happened.

Penalty notice or court. For a first low range offence, police can issue a penalty notice ($722 at the date checked) with an immediate 3-month licence suspension. There is no court date and no conviction. If police issue a court attendance notice instead, the matter goes to Bega Local Court.

If it goes to court. The maximum fine is 20 penalty units ($2,200). On conviction, the disqualification is 6 months automatic, with a 3-month minimum. There is no interlock for a first low range offence. Because Alex has a clean record and the reading is near the bottom of the range, Alex's lawyer may ask the Magistrate to deal with the matter under section 10 (no conviction, no disqualification). That is possible but never certain.

What changes if the facts change?

Reading of 0.09 (mid range): this is a mandatory interlock offence, even for a first offence. Unless the court makes an exemption order, Alex is disqualified for 3 to 6 months and then must drive with an interlock for at least 12 months. The maximum includes 9 months' imprisonment.
Reading of 0.16 (high range): the maximum is 30 penalty units ($3,300) and/or 18 months' imprisonment, with an interlock order of 6 to 9 months' disqualification followed by at least 24 months on an interlock licence.
Alex on P plates: Alex is a novice driver, so any reading above zero is an offence. At 0.062, Alex would usually be charged with the low range offence, and a novice range charge applies only below 0.02.
A second low range offence within 5 years: it becomes a mandatory interlock offence (1 to 3 months' disqualification, then at least 12 months on an interlock), section 10 is not available if Alex had a section 10 for the first one (RTA s 203), and Alex must pass the Driver Knowledge Test before being licensed again.

Which drink driving charges does Bega Local Court hear?

Bega Local Court deals with the full range of NSW offences, including:

novice, special, low, mid and high range PCA (RTA s 110);
driving under the influence (s 112) and refusing breath analysis;
drug driving after roadside oral fluid testing (s 111), covered in our NSW drug driving guide;
second or subsequent drink driving offences, where the penalties and interlock rules change;
related charges such as driving while suspended or disqualified.

Our NSW drink driving offences guide explains each range, and the NSW drink driving penalties guide sets out the full penalty tables.

Why do charges arise around Bega?

Bega is the commercial and administrative centre of the Bega Valley, serving an area that stretches from the Sapphire Coast to inland farming communities. Dairy farming, agriculture, forestry, tourism and hospitality are major local industries, and people regularly drive between Bega, Eden, Tathra, Bermagui, Cobargo, Candelo and smaller communities. Situations that can lead to a charge include:

random breath testing on the Princes Highway and regional roads;
late-night driving after pubs, clubs, restaurants and events;
early-morning residual alcohol after drinking the night before;
mobile drug testing on regional highways;
work driving between farms, sites and neighbouring towns.

A charge can involve anyone: a local worker, farmer, tradesperson, business owner or visitor who underestimated the effect of alcohol or misunderstood the drug driving laws.

What does the court weigh up at sentence?

The Magistrate considers the seriousness of the offence (your reading, the manner of driving, any crash), public safety, personal and general deterrence, and how likely you are to reoffend. Against that, the court considers your record, your need for a licence, your remorse and the steps you have taken.

Preparation affects where in the range you land. It is natural to focus on what you want to say to the Magistrate, but a stronger case is built on well-prepared material:

checking the police facts for accuracy and asking for corrections where needed;
character references that mention the offence;
a drug and alcohol assessment or counselling letter where relevant;
a completed Traffic Offenders Program certificate;
evidence of what a disqualification means for your work and family in a region with little public transport.

Does the interlock apply in the Bega Valley?

Yes, exactly as anywhere else in NSW. Mid range, high range, DUI involving alcohol, refusing breath analysis and repeat lower-range offences are mandatory interlock offences (RTA s 209). An exemption is only available on narrow grounds, and Transport for NSW states that living in a regional or remote area is not one of them (TfNSW Alcohol Interlock Program). See our NSW alcohol interlock guide.

Which courts are near Bega?

Bega runs the registry for two smaller circuit courts, which open on court sitting days only:

Eden drink driving matters – Imlay Street, about 44 km; postal address c/- PO Box 31 Bega
Narooma Local Court DUI – Princes Highway, about 57 km; open court sitting days only
Bombala drink driving charges – High Street, about 60 km; c/- Bega Court House

Check your court attendance notice for the right court. All other NSW courts are listed in our NSW courts we attend directory.

What clients say

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Bega drink driving FAQs

Where is Bega Local Court and when is it open?

Bega Local and District Court is on the corner of Gipps and Carp Streets, Bega NSW 2550 (PO Box 31). The registry and phones are open 9.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday. Phone (02) 6492 9300 or 1300 679 272.

Are Eden and Bombala run from Bega?

The Local Court of NSW lists both Eden and Bombala with postal addresses care of Bega (PO Box 31 Bega), and both open on court sitting days only. If your notice says Eden or Bombala, go to that court on the listed date.

Can a first low range offence be dealt with without going to court?

Yes. Police can issue a penalty notice for a first low, novice or special range offence. You pay the fine and your licence is suspended for 3 months, but there is no conviction. If you receive a court attendance notice instead, the matter must go to court.

Is a first mid range offence an interlock offence?

Yes. Since 3 December 2018, a first mid range PCA offence has been a mandatory interlock offence in NSW. Unless the court makes an exemption order, you will be disqualified for 3 to 6 months and then drive with an interlock for at least 12 months.

Is a section 10 possible at Bega?

It can be, in the right case, and it means no conviction and no automatic disqualification. It depends on the seriousness of the offence and your circumstances, and it is not available if you had a section 10 for a similar offence in the past 5 years. See our guide to avoiding a drink driving conviction in NSW.

Sources and date checked

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

Local Court of NSW – Court locations B (Bega, Bombala) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Local Court of NSW – Court locations E (Eden) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Local Court of NSW – Court locations N (Narooma) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) – current version for 1 October 2026 (ss 9, 108, 110, 203, 205, 209–212, 224) — 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.

Bega Local Court — court details

Bega Local Court

Street: Corner Gipps and Carp Streets, Bega NSW 2550
Postal: PO Box 31, Bega NSW 2550
Phone: (02) 6492 9300 or 1300 679 272
Registry hours: Registry and telephone 9.00am – 1.00pm and 2.00pm – 4.00pm
Days open: Monday to Friday
Facilities: Audio visual link (AVL) facilities · 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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