NEW SOUTH WALES

Bourke DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Bourke Local Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Bourke Local Court at 55–57 Oxley Street is the main court for a very large part of Far West NSW, and its registry also handles Brewarrina court. We assist clients at Bourke 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: Bourke Local and District Court, 55–57 Oxley Street, Bourke NSW 2840. Phone 1300 679 272. Open Monday to Friday, with AVL facilities.
Distance matters: Cobar court is about 157 km away and Dubbo about 349 km, so plan documents and travel well ahead.
Law: NSW Road Transport Act 2013. Mid range and above, even for a first offence, is a mandatory interlock offence.

New South Wales law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

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What's on this page

What should you do first after a Bourke drink driving charge?

Start preparing straight away. In Bourke the main difficulty is rarely the law; it is time and distance. Assessments, counselling, the Traffic Offenders Program, references and employer letters can take weeks to organise when the nearest services may be hundreds of kilometres away. Use the checklist below from the day you are charged.

The Bourke preparation checklist

Step	What to do	Why it matters in Far West NSW
1	Read your court attendance notice: the charge, the reading and the court date	Your reading sets the range (novice, special, low, mid or high) and the penalties. Check whether you are listed at Bourke or Brewarrina.
2	Check your licence status	Police can suspend your licence immediately for mid range, high range, DUI and some other charges (RTA s 224). Driving while suspended is a separate, serious offence.
3	Get legal advice about plea	Whether to plead guilty, and whether the facts are accurate, should be decided before the first court date.
4	Book a Traffic Offenders Program early	Places and delivery options vary; confirm the program is one the court will recognise.
5	Arrange a drug and alcohol assessment or counselling if relevant	Services may be limited locally; telehealth may be an option.
6	Ask two or three people for character references	They must know about the charge and say so. People in small communities often know you well, which helps if the reference is specific.
7	Get an employer letter	Describe your role, distances driven, and what happens to your job without a licence. On stations and in transport work, this can be decisive evidence.
8	Gather proof of hardship	Distance to work, school, medical appointments and family, and the absence of public transport.
9	Plan for interlock if it applies	Find out where the nearest accredited interlock provider is and how often it services the area.
10	Plan your travel to court	Allow for road conditions and distance, and arrange how you will get home if you are disqualified on the day.

Which drink driving penalties apply at Bourke?

Bourke Local Court applies the same NSW law as every other Local Court. These are the maximums for a first offence under the Road Transport Act 2013, with dollar figures at $110 per penalty unit.

Offence (first offence)	Maximum penalty	Licence consequence
Novice, special or low range PCA	20 PU ($2,200)	6 months' disqualification (3 months minimum)
Mid range PCA (0.08 to under 0.15)	20 PU ($2,200) and/or 9 months' prison	Interlock order: 3–6 months' disqualification, then at least 12 months on an interlock
High range PCA (0.15 or more)	30 PU ($3,300) and/or 18 months' prison	Interlock order: 6–9 months' disqualification, then at least 24 months on an interlock
DUI (alcohol)	30 PU ($3,300) and/or 18 months' prison	Interlock order: 6–9 months' disqualification, then at least 24 months on an interlock

Repeat offences within 5 years carry higher maximums and longer interlock periods. A first low, novice or special range offence may instead be dealt with by a penalty notice with a 3-month suspension and no court date. The full tables are in our NSW drink driving penalties guide, and each offence is explained in our NSW drink driving offences guide.

Is there an exemption from interlock if you live out west?

Not because of where you live. An exemption order is only available on narrow grounds, such as having no access to a vehicle or a medical condition, and for a first mid range offence, severe hardship. Transport for NSW states that you cannot be exempted because you live in a regional or remote area (TfNSW Alcohol Interlock Program). If you do not enter the program after an interlock order, you are disqualified for 5 years. Our NSW alcohol interlock guide explains the process.

How do distance and remoteness affect sentencing?

They are relevant, but they do not override the law. People in Bourke regularly drive long distances to work, visit family, get supplies and attend appointments, and public transport is very limited. A Magistrate can take the real hardship of losing your licence into account when deciding the penalty and, in an appropriate case, whether to deal with the matter without conviction.

At the same time, courts put significant weight on public safety and deterrence, especially on highways where help is far away. Hardship has to be shown with evidence, not just stated. That is why steps 7 and 8 of the checklist matter.

Where can Bourke charges come from?

Drink and drug driving charges in the Bourke region can follow:

random breath testing on the Mitchell and Kamilaroi Highways;
long-distance travel between remote communities;
driving after social events, sporting functions and community gatherings;
early-morning residual alcohol after drinking the night before;
roadside drug testing on transport routes, covered in our NSW drug driving guide;
station, agricultural, mining, transport and construction work involving a lot of driving.

Can you avoid a conviction at Bourke?

Possibly. Under section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, the court can dismiss the charge or make a conditional release order without conviction. With no conviction, there is no automatic disqualification. The court considers your record, character, age, the trivial or otherwise nature of the offence and any extenuating circumstances. A section 10 is not available if you received one for a similar offence in the previous 5 years (RTA s 203). See our guide to avoiding a drink driving conviction in NSW.

Which courts are near Bourke?

Brewarrina court – Bathurst Street, Brewarrina. Open Tuesday and Wednesday each week, phone (02) 6832 5820 or 1300 679 272, postal address PO Box 5 Bourke. It is run through the Bourke registry.
Cobar drink driving matters – 31 Barton Street, about 157 km. The court sits on the Tuesday and Wednesday of the 4th week of the month.
Dubbo Local Court DUI – Brisbane Street, about 349 km. Open Monday to Friday.
Broken Hill drink driving charges – about 475 km.
Nearby court in Queensland: St George Magistrates Court is about 344 km away. Queensland law is different; this page covers NSW only.

For all other NSW courts, see our NSW courts we attend directory.

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Bourke drink driving FAQs

Where is Bourke Local Court and when is it open?

Bourke Local and District Court is at 55–57 Oxley Street, Bourke NSW 2840 (PO Box 5). The registry is open 9.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday, and the phone line (1300 679 272) operates 8.30am to 4.30pm.

My notice says Brewarrina. Is that the same court?

No. Brewarrina court is a separate court in Bathurst Street, Brewarrina, that sits on Tuesday and Wednesday each week. It shares the Bourke postal address (PO Box 5 Bourke). Go to the court shown on your notice.

Can I appear by video link?

Bourke courthouse has audio visual link (AVL) facilities, but whether you can appear by AVL is up to the court and depends on your matter. Do not assume you can; get advice and ask the court in advance.

How long before court should I start preparing?

As soon as you are charged. In remote areas, booking the Traffic Offenders Program, getting an assessment and collecting references can take several weeks.

Will living in Bourke help me avoid an interlock?

No. If your offence is a mandatory interlock offence, living in a regional or remote area is not a ground for an exemption. The exemption grounds are limited to things like no access to a vehicle or a medical condition, and severe hardship for a first mid range offence only.

What if this is my second offence?

A second offence within 5 years brings higher maximum penalties and longer disqualification and interlock periods. Even a second low range offence becomes a mandatory interlock offence, and you will have to pass the Driver Knowledge Test before being relicensed.

Sources and date checked

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

Local Court of NSW – Court locations B (Bourke, Brewarrina) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Local Court of NSW – Court locations C (Cobar) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Local Court of NSW – Court locations D (Dubbo) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) – current version for 1 October 2026 (ss 108, 110, 112, 203, 205, 209–212) — 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.

Bourke Local Court — court details

Bourke Local Court

Street: 55–57 Oxley Street, Bourke NSW 2840
Postal: PO Box 5, Bourke NSW 2840
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 · 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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