NEW SOUTH WALES

Bombala DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Bombala Local Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Bombala Local Court in High Street opens only on court sitting days, and its mail goes through the Bega courthouse. We assist clients at Bombala 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: Bombala Local Court, High Street, Bombala NSW 2632. Phone (02) 6497 2840 or 1300 679 272 on sitting days. Postal: c/- Bega Court House, PO Box 31, Bega NSW 2550.
Timing: the registry opens 9.30am – 1.00pm and 2.00pm – 3.30pm on sitting days only.
Law: NSW Road Transport Act 2013. A first mid range offence already means a mandatory interlock order on conviction.

New South Wales law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

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What's on this page

How should you prepare for a court that only opens on sitting days?

By working backwards. Bombala Local Court does not keep a weekday registry: the doors and phone line open only when the court sits. You cannot drop in on a Tuesday to ask a question or file a document, and a missing reference cannot be fixed with a quick trip into town the day before. The answer is a countdown. Fix your court date, then plan every task against it.

The checklist below is built for the Snowy Monaro: long distances, small communities, frosty early mornings and services that are often an hour or more away. It applies NSW law, which is the same at Bombala as anywhere else in the state.

What is the Bombala countdown checklist?

As soon as you are charged

[ ] Read the court attendance notice. Note the exact charge, the reading or drug detected, the court date and the court. Bombala, Bega, Eden and Cooma all appear on notices in this district, so check that the court is Bombala.
[ ] Work out your licence position. For mid range, high range, DUI, refusal and some drug charges, police can hand you an immediate suspension notice under section 224 of the Road Transport Act 2013. A first novice, special or low range offence dealt with by penalty notice can also bring a 3-month suspension. If you are suspended, do not drive.
[ ] Think about a suspension appeal now, not later. An appeal against an immediate suspension has to be lodged before the charge is decided. The court can only lift the suspension if exceptional circumstances justify it, and it does not look at how the offence happened (section 268). Our licence suspension appeal guide explains the test.
[ ] Get legal advice on the plea. If anything in the police facts is wrong, it should be raised long before the sitting day.

Six to eight weeks out

[ ] Book the Traffic Offenders Program. Places can fill and online formats vary. Confirm the course is one the court will accept before you pay.
[ ] Arrange counselling or an assessment if alcohol or drugs are a real issue in your life. A letter from a GP or counsellor carries more weight than a promise.
[ ] Ask for references. Choose two or three people who know you well. Each must know about the charge and say so. A farmer, coach or employer who has known you for years and writes specifically about your reliability is more useful than a stranger with a title.

Two to four weeks out

[ ] Get your employer letter. It should describe your role, your hours, the distances you drive and what happens to your job if you cannot drive. In farming, forestry, transport and trades work, this is often the most important document in the bundle.
[ ] Write down your transport plan. Show the court how you will get to work, school runs and appointments during any disqualification. Name the people who will drive you.
[ ] Gather proof of hardship. Distances, the lack of public transport around Bombala, caring duties and medical appointments in Cooma, Bega or further away.
[ ] If an interlock will apply, find a provider. Work out where the device would be fitted and serviced and how often you would need to travel.

The week before

[ ] Print everything. References signed and dated, the program certificate, the employer letter and any medical material, in a single folder.
[ ] Confirm the sitting. Call (02) 6497 2840 or 1300 679 272 during sitting-day hours, or check through the Bega registry, if you are unsure the matter is still listed.
[ ] Plan the drive and the drive home. If you are disqualified on the day, the disqualification usually starts immediately. Arrange someone to collect you.

On the sitting day

[ ] Arrive early. The registry opens at 9.30am. Allow for frost or fog on the Monaro Highway in winter.
[ ] Bring your court attendance notice and your folder.
[ ] Expect to wait. Traffic matters are usually called through the list, so set the day aside.

Which penalties is the Bombala court working with?

The Magistrate at Bombala applies the same scheme as every NSW Local Court. The first-offence maximums below use $110 per penalty unit.

If you are convicted of...	Fine and prison (maximum)	Licence outcome the law requires
Novice, special or low range PCA	20 PU ($2,200)	Automatic 6-month disqualification; the court can reduce it to a 3-month minimum
Mid range PCA, 0.08 to under 0.15	20 PU ($2,200), up to 9 months' prison	Interlock order: 3 to 6 months off the road, then at least 12 months with a device
High range PCA, 0.15 or more	30 PU ($3,300), up to 18 months' prison	Interlock order: 6 to 9 months off the road, then at least 24 months with a device
Driving under the influence	30 PU ($3,300), up to 18 months' prison	Interlock order, as for high range
Illicit drug present (s 111)	20 PU ($2,200)	Automatic 6-month disqualification; the court can reduce it to a 3-month minimum

For a second offence within 5 years, the maximums and minimum periods rise. A previous drink or drug driving penalty notice in that window counts too (section 9(2A)). Even a second low range offence becomes a mandatory interlock offence. Our NSW drink driving penalties guide sets out the full table, including repeat offences, and the NSW drink driving offences guide explains each charge.

Is an interlock unavoidable once it applies?

Almost always. An exemption order is only possible on narrow grounds, such as having no access to a vehicle or a medical condition, and, for a first mid range offence only, severe hardship. Transport for NSW says you cannot get an exemption because you live in a regional or remote area (TfNSW Alcohol Interlock Program). If you never enter the program after an interlock order, the law disqualifies you for 5 years. That is why the provider question belongs in your countdown, not after sentence. Read our NSW alcohol interlock guide for the licence steps.

Can the matter end without a conviction?

In some cases. Section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 allows the court to dismiss the charge or impose a conditional release order without recording a conviction. With no conviction, the automatic disqualification and interlock rules do not apply. The court weighs your record, character, age and health, the seriousness of the offence and any extenuating circumstances. A section 10 is not available if you have had one for a similar offence in the previous 5 years (section 203). The preparation in the countdown is exactly what a Magistrate needs to see before considering one.

What about drug driving charges around Bombala?

The presence offences are in section 111. If THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine is found in your oral fluid, blood or urine, the offence is complete, whether or not you felt affected. Cannabis in particular can be detected some time after use, which can come as a surprise. A first offence carries up to $2,200 and the same automatic disqualification as low range PCA. If police allege you were actually impaired, the charge may be DUI (section 112) instead, which is far more serious. See our NSW drug driving guide for detail.

Why do charges arise in the Snowy Monaro?

Drivers here cover long distances on the Monaro Highway and rural roads for work, sport, shopping and family. Situations can include:

random breath testing on the approaches to Bombala, Delegate and Nimmitabel;
driving home from a venue, a property or a private function where there is no taxi or bus;
the morning after: still over the limit at 6am when heading out to work;
roadside drug testing that detects cannabis used days earlier;
farm, forestry and trade work that cannot be done without a vehicle.

Which courts are near Bombala?

Bega Local Court drink driving – Cnr Gipps and Carp Streets, about 60 km. Its PO box is Bombala's postal address. Open Monday to Friday, phone (02) 6492 9300 or 1300 679 272.
Eden DUI charges – Imlay Street, about 61 km. Open on sitting days only.
Cooma court representation – Vale Street, about 76 km. Registry Wednesday to Friday, phone (02) 6453 4900 or 1300 679 272.

For every other location, see the NSW courts we attend directory.

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Bombala drink driving FAQs

Where is Bombala Local Court and when can I contact it?

The court is in High Street, Bombala. The registry and phone line, (02) 6497 2840 or 1300 679 272, operate 9.30am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 3.30pm on court sitting days only. Post goes c/- Bega Court House, PO Box 31, Bega NSW 2550.

What if I need the registry on a day the court is not sitting?

Write to the postal address at Bega, or ask your lawyer to make contact. Do not leave registry tasks until the sitting day itself, when staff are busy with the list.

Can the court shorten my disqualification?

Within limits. For a low range or drug presence conviction, the court can reduce the automatic 6 months to no less than 3. For mid range, high range and alcohol DUI, the court sets the disqualification within the interlock ranges in the table. It cannot go below the statutory minimum unless it deals with the matter without conviction.

Is a first mid range offence really an interlock offence?

Yes. On conviction, the court must make an interlock order unless an exemption ground applies. For a first mid range offence, that means 3 to 6 months off the road, then at least 12 months driving with an interlock fitted.

How much weight does the Traffic Offenders Program carry?

It is one factor among several. Completing a recognised program is one of the things a Magistrate may take into account, together with references, your record and the seriousness of the offence.

Sources and date checked

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

Local Court of NSW – Court locations B (Bombala, Bega) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Local Court of NSW – Court locations C and E (Cooma, Eden) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) – current version (ss 9, 110, 111, 112, 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) – 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.

Bombala Local Court — court details

Bombala Local Court

Street: High Street, Bombala NSW 2632
Postal: c/- Bega Court House, PO Box 31, Bega NSW 2550
Phone: (02) 6497 2840 or 1300 679 272
Registry hours: Registry and telephone 9.30am – 1.00pm and 2.00pm – 3.30pm, court sitting days only
Days open: Court sitting days only

➜ Get directions

Local Court of NSW, Court locations – B (localcourt.nsw.gov.au), saved 19 Oct 2026. Postcode 2632 is general knowledge, not from the official list. 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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