NEW SOUTH WALES

Coffs Harbour DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Coffs Harbour Local Court at 2–16 Beryl Street is the main court for the Coffs Coast. Bellingen Local Court has not operated since March 2018 and its sittings were moved to Coffs Harbour. Charges from the Nambucca Valley may be listed at Macksville instead. We assist clients at Coffs Harbour 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: Coffs Harbour Local and District Court, 2–16 Beryl Street, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450. Phone 1300 679 272. Registry 9am–4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Bellingen: non-operational since 26 March 2018; Bellingen sittings are heard at Coffs Harbour.
Interlock: mandatory order for a first mid range, high range, DUI or refusal conviction unless the court makes an exemption order.

New South Wales law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

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What's on this page

Which court will hear a Coffs Coast drink driving charge?

The court printed on your court attendance notice. For most charges from the Coffs Coast, that is Coffs Harbour Local Court at 2–16 Beryl Street. Two points cause confusion:

Bellingen. The official Local Court list says Bellingen Local Court (48 Hyde Street) has been "not open (non-operational) from 26 March 2018 until further notice", and that all Bellingen sittings are transferred to Coffs Harbour. If your paperwork or an old website says Bellingen, go to Coffs Harbour unless the court tells you otherwise.
Macksville. The Nambucca Valley has its own court in River Street, Macksville, open Tuesday to Friday (see our Macksville Local Court guide). Charges from Nambucca Heads, Macksville or Scotts Head may be listed there rather than at Coffs Harbour. Check your notice.

There is no Local Court at Woolgoolga, Sawtell or Urunga, so charges from those towns are listed at Coffs Harbour or the court police choose. Once a case starts at a court, it stays there unless the magistrate transfers it.

How do the courts around Coffs Harbour compare?

Court	Address	When it is open	Phone
Coffs Harbour	2–16 Beryl Street; PO Box 18, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450	Monday to Friday; registry 9.00am–4.30pm	1300 679 272
Bellingen	48 Hyde Street	Non-operational since 26 March 2018; sittings at Coffs Harbour	Enquiries to Coffs Harbour
Macksville	River Street; PO Box 135, Macksville NSW 2447	Tuesday to Friday; registry 9.00am–1.00pm and 2.00pm–4.00pm	(02) 6569 2801 or 1300 679 272
Grafton	Clarence Valley	See our Grafton page	–
Kempsey	Macleay Valley	See our Kempsey page	–

Details are from the official Local Court list saved on 19 October 2026. Coffs Harbour's fax is (02) 5622 9199 and Macksville's is (02) 6569 2809. Both have AVL facilities. Coffs Harbour also sits as a District Court, which hears appeals from Local Court decisions on the North Coast.

Can a matter move from one court to another?

A case is normally finalised at the court where it starts. A magistrate can transfer it for good reason, such as where a co-accused's matter is in another court, but you cannot simply choose a different court because it is closer to home or work. If you live in Grafton and were charged on the Pacific Highway near Woolgoolga, you will usually need to come to Coffs Harbour.

If you appeal against a Local Court sentence, the appeal goes to the District Court. On the North Coast, District Court sittings are held at Coffs Harbour and other centres; the appeal is a rehearing on the evidence, and the District Court can increase as well as reduce the sentence. An appeal does not automatically stop a disqualification starting, so get advice quickly if you are thinking about one.

What does NSW law say about your reading?

Every court on the Coffs Coast applies the same statute, the Road Transport Act 2013 (RTA on the NSW legislation site). Its s 110 sorts readings into five bands. Learner and P-plate drivers, and anyone unlicensed, commit the novice range offence with any reading at all below 0.02. Drivers of trucks, buses, taxis and dangerous goods vehicles fall into the special range from 0.02. For everyone else, the low range starts at 0.05, the mid range at 0.08 and the high range at 0.15.

Driving under the influence (s 112) does not need a reading; police must prove you were affected. Refusing a breath analysis is an offence in its own right. The breath analysis that counts generally has to be done within 2 hours of the driving (Sch 3).

What penalties can the Coffs Harbour court impose?

First offence maximums and licence consequences on conviction:

Charge	Maximum	Licence
Novice, special or low range	$2,200	6 months' disqualification, which the court may cut to 3
Mid range	$2,200 and/or 9 months' prison	Interlock order – 3 to 6 months off the road, then 12 months or more with an interlock
High range	$3,300 and/or 18 months' prison	Interlock order – 6 to 9 months off the road, then 24 months or more
DUI or refusal	$3,300 and/or 18 months' prison	As for high range
Illicit drug present	$2,200	6 months' disqualification, which the court may cut to 3

A penalty unit is $110. Disqualification on conviction is automatic (RTA s 205). The interlock order is not an extra penalty the court may choose to add; it is mandatory for the listed offences unless the court makes an exemption order. The exemption grounds are tight – lacking any vehicle to fit, or a medical reason the device cannot be used – and an exemption brings a longer disqualification: 12 months (minimum 6) for mid range, and 3 years (minimum 12 months) for high range.

A second offence within 5 years (including one dealt with by penalty notice, s 9) brings higher maximums and an interlock order for every drink driving range. All of them, repeat offences included, are in the NSW drink driving penalty tables, and for high range charges see the NSW high range guideline judgment.

Will your case even reach court?

Not always. If this is your first offence and it is novice, special or low range, or drug presence, police have the option of a penalty notice. Transport for NSW describes it on its drink and drug driving penalties page: you pay a fine, your licence is suspended for 3 months, and no conviction is recorded. You can elect to go to court instead, but the court can then impose the full court penalty.

For a mid range, high range, DUI or refusal charge, police can also suspend your licence immediately (RTA s 224). That suspension usually lasts until the case is finished. An appeal under s 268 is possible, but the court can lift the suspension only in exceptional circumstances.

Can you avoid a conviction at Coffs Harbour?

Possibly. The power is in section 10 of the sentencing Act: a dismissal, or a conditional release order with no conviction. If the magistrate uses it, the automatic disqualification and the interlock order fall away. The magistrate considers your character, record, age and health, the seriousness of the offence and any extenuating circumstances. It is not available if you had a section 10 for a similar major offence in the past 5 years (RTA s 203). More on this in our explainer on avoiding a conviction for NSW drink driving.

Is there a licence for work while disqualified?

No. NSW has no work licence for drink or drug driving disqualifications. For tradespeople moving between job sites on the coast, farm and horticulture workers, and health workers on home visits, that is often the biggest concern. Where the court has made an interlock order, the way back is an interlock licence, available when the off-road months are over. If you do not join the program after an order, you are disqualified for 5 years. Providers, fees and the licence steps are on Transport for NSW's interlock page; the court side is in how interlock orders work.

Driving during a disqualification is a separate offence – see driving while disqualified in NSW.

What about drug driving on the Coffs Coast?

Mobile drug testing checks for cannabis, methylamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine. Driving with any of these present (s 111) is an offence even if you were not affected. A first offence carries up to $2,200 and an automatic 6-month disqualification, reducible to 3, or a penalty notice in some cases. Driving under the influence of a drug is a more serious charge. See NSW drug driving offences and penalties.

How should you prepare for a Coffs Harbour sentence?

Whichever court your case is in, the magistrate will want to understand what happened and what you have done since. Gather:

proof of completing the Traffic Offenders Program in NSW;
references from people who know about the charge;
an employer letter about your work and travel along the coast;
your NSW driving record;
medical, family or counselling material, where relevant.

Check the police facts before you plead, and raise any errors. If the evidence is genuinely in question, read how drink driving charges are defended in NSW. For the steps inside the courtroom, see the NSW court process for drink driving.

How do you get to court if you cannot drive?

If police suspended your licence, you cannot drive yourself to Beryl Street or Macksville, and driving while suspended is a separate offence that would make your position much worse. Work out the trip well before the date. Options include a lift from family or a workmate, local buses within Coffs Harbour, and regional rail or coach services along the coast for people coming from Nambucca, Macksville, Urunga or Grafton. Trains and coaches may not line up with an early court start, so check times carefully and allow a margin. If you genuinely cannot get to court, contact the registry before the date rather than simply not attending: if you fail to appear, the court can deal with the matter in your absence or issue a warrant.

What happens on the day at Beryl Street?

Coffs Harbour is a busy regional courthouse that also hosts District Court sittings, so more than one courtroom may be running. Allow time for security screening at the entrance, then find the court list for the day, which shows which courtroom your matter is in. Tell the court officer or the registry that you have arrived. If you have a lawyer, they will usually find you before the list starts.

When your name is called, you go to the bar table, or sit beside your lawyer. If you are pleading guilty and ready, the police facts are handed up, your material is tendered, and submissions are made about the penalty. The magistrate may ask you questions directly; answer briefly and honestly. The sentence is usually given then and there. If the magistrate disqualifies you, the disqualification usually starts that day, so arrange a lift home before you go in.

What if you are visiting the Coffs Coast from interstate?

Coffs Harbour draws holiday traffic from Queensland, Victoria and elsewhere, and visitors are charged here too. The offence happened on a NSW road, so NSW law applies in full: the NSW ranges, penalties and interlock rules, whatever licence you hold. A NSW court cannot cancel an interstate licence directly, but a NSW disqualification will usually flow through to your home licence. You will generally need to come back to Coffs Harbour for court dates unless the court allows an appearance by AVL, so factor travel into any decision about pleading not guilty.

What if there was a crash or someone was hurt?

A crash makes a drink driving charge more serious, even if the damage was minor. The magistrate will look at the manner of driving, the harm caused and whether others were put at risk. Further charges, such as negligent driving, may be laid alongside the drink driving charge, and a disqualification for one can be ordered to run after the other. If someone was seriously injured, the charges and the court can change altogether: some offences involving grievous bodily harm or death are heard in the District Court. Read about negligent driving in NSW and dangerous driving charges, and bring every notice you received to the first meeting.

What if you hold a learner, provisional or heavy vehicle licence?

Lower limits apply to some Coffs Coast drivers. Learner and provisional licence holders must have a zero blood alcohol concentration, so any reading from 0.00 up to 0.02 is a novice range offence. Drivers of heavy vehicles, buses, taxis and dangerous goods vehicles are in the special range from 0.02 to under 0.05. These offences sit alongside the low, mid and high ranges under the Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW), and a P-plater can also face licence consequences through demerit points. If you drive for work around the Coffs Harbour port, the highway or the region's tourism operators, tell us your licence class at the first meeting.

Which courts are near Coffs Harbour?

Grafton Local Court – about 85 km north
Kempsey drink driving matters – about 100 km south
Port Macquarie DUI charges – about 160 km south

The rest are in our NSW court list.

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Coffs Harbour drink driving FAQs

What are the contact details for Coffs Harbour Local Court?

The official list gives 2–16 Beryl Street, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450; PO Box 18, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450; phone 1300 679 272 (8.30am to 4.30pm); fax (02) 5622 9199. The registry is open 9.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

My charge is from Bellingen. Where do I go?

Bellingen Local Court has been non-operational since 26 March 2018, and its sittings are heard at Coffs Harbour. Follow your court attendance notice; if it is unclear, call 1300 679 272.

Can I ask for my case to be heard closer to home?

You can ask, but a transfer needs a good reason and is a matter for the magistrate. Most cases are finalised at the court where they start.

Is the interlock automatic for a first mid range offence?

On conviction, yes, unless the court makes an exemption order on narrow grounds. A section 10 means no conviction, so no interlock order.

Does a penalty notice count as a prior offence?

Yes. A drink or drug driving penalty notice counts for 5 years, so a later offence becomes a second offence with higher penalties.

Can I appeal if I think the sentence is too harsh?

Yes, to the District Court, usually within 28 days. The District Court rehears the case and can increase or reduce the sentence.

Sources and date checked

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

Local Court of NSW – Court locations C (Coffs Harbour Local and District) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Local Court of NSW – Court locations B (Bellingen – non-operational from 26 March 2018; sittings transferred to Coffs Harbour) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Local Court of NSW – Court locations M (Macksville) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) – current version (ss 9, 110, 111, 112, 203, 205, 209–212, 224, 268; Sch 3) — 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.

Coffs Harbour Local Court — court details

Coffs Harbour Local Court

Street: 2–16 Beryl Street, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
Postal: PO Box 18, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
Phone: 1300 679 272
Registry hours: Registry 9.00am – 4.30pm; telephone 8.30am – 4.30pm
Days open: Monday to Friday
Facilities: Audio visual link (AVL) facilities

➜ Get directions

Local Court of NSW, Court locations – C (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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