NEW SOUTH WALES

Downing Centre Sydney DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Downing Centre Local Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Drink and drug driving charges from the Sydney CBD are heard by the Local Court on Level 4 of the Downing Centre, 143–147 Liverpool Street. Appeals go to the District Court on Level 3 of the same building. While North Sydney Local Court is temporarily closed, the official list sends its enquiries here. We assist clients at Downing Centre 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: Downing Centre Local Court (criminal), Level 4, 143–147 Liverpool Street, Sydney NSW 2000. Phone 1300 679 272. Registry 9am–4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Upstairs, downstairs: District Court criminal registry is Level 3; civil claims moved to 86 Goulburn Street in 2013.
Law: a conviction disqualifies you automatically (Road Transport Act 2013 s 205); NSW has no work licence.

New South Wales law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

Call 1300 941 900 Make an enquiry about legal representation

Downing Centre (Sydney) courthouse – Boorman Lawyers

What's on this page

Which court in the Downing Centre hears a drink driving charge?

The Local Court. The Downing Centre on Liverpool Street holds several courts and registries, and people often go to the wrong floor. Here is the building as the official Local Court list describes it:

Where	What it handles	Details from the official list
Level 4 – Local Court (criminal)	First mentions, pleas, hearings and sentence for PCA, drug presence, DUI and refusal charges	Phone 1300 679 272, fax (02) 9287 7963, registry 9am–4.30pm Mon–Fri
Level 3 – District Court (criminal)	Appeals from Local Court sentences and convictions	Phone 1300 679 272, fax (02) 9287 7543, registry 9am–4.30pm Mon–Fri
Level 5 – civil claims	No longer used for civil filing	Moved on 14 October 2013 to the Sydney Civil registry, Level 4, John Maddison Tower, 86 Goulburn Street

Both criminal registries use PO Box A4, Sydney South 1235 for post. Telephone hours are 8.30am to 4.30pm and AVL facilities are available. Your court attendance notice names the court and date; check it rather than relying on the building name alone.

Which charges end up at the Downing Centre?

Mostly charges from police operations in the city and nearby inner suburbs. The official list also says North Sydney Local Court, at 94 Pacific Highway, is temporarily closed until further notice, with enquiries directed to the Downing Centre. If your notice was issued on the lower north shore, confirm exactly where it is listed.

The charges are the same as anywhere in NSW, under the Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW):

PCA (s 110): novice range is any alcohol under 0.02 for learner, P-plate and unlicensed drivers; special range is 0.02 to under 0.05 for heavy vehicle, bus, taxi, rideshare-type public passenger and dangerous goods drivers; low range 0.05 to under 0.08; mid range 0.08 to under 0.15; high range 0.15 and over.
Illicit drug present (s 111): THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine detected, with no need to prove impairment.
Driving under the influence (s 112): alcohol or drugs affecting your driving.
Refusing or failing a breath test, breath analysis or sample.

What happens to your licence before the Liverpool Street date?

For a first low, novice or special range offence or a first drug presence offence, police can give a penalty notice (a fine and 3-month suspension, no court). Once it is a court matter, mid range, high range, DUI and refusal charges usually come with an immediate suspension notice under s 224. That suspension runs until the case ends. An appeal to the Local Court under s 268 can lift it only in exceptional circumstances. Our page on appealing a NSW licence suspension covers timing.

What can the Local Court on Level 4 do on sentence?

If a conviction is recorded, disqualification follows automatically under s 205. If not, there is none.

No conviction: the magistrate may dismiss the charge or make a conditional release order under section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act. It is unavailable where you have had a section 10 for a major offence within 5 years (s 203).
Conviction, first offence:

Offence	Off the road	Then	Top fine / jail
Novice, special, low range	6 months automatic (minimum 3)	–	$2,200
Mid range	3–6 months	12 months+ on an interlock	$2,200 / 9 months
High range, DUI, refusal	6–9 months	24 months+ on an interlock	$3,300 / 18 months
Drug present	6 months automatic (minimum 3)	–	$2,200

The interlock order is mandatory for those charges. An exemption order is available only on narrow grounds and swaps the interlock for a longer disqualification. A second offence within 5 years puts every drink driving range into the interlock program. Detail is in our NSW drink driving penalty guide and on the Transport for NSW interlock page.

NSW does not have a work licence. Professional drivers, couriers and tradies working across the city cannot get a restricted licence for a drink or drug driving disqualification.

Where do you go if you appeal?

Downstairs. An appeal against a Local Court conviction or sentence goes to the District Court, whose criminal registry is on Level 3 of the same building. A severity appeal is generally lodged within 28 days, and the District Court can increase as well as reduce the penalty. Any immediate suspension or disqualification usually keeps running unless the court orders otherwise.

Which other courts hear inner-Sydney drink driving charges?

If the notice is not for the Downing Centre, it may be for a nearby court:

Newtown Local Court – inner west and south of the CBD.
Waverley drink driving charges – Bondi Junction and the eastern suburbs.
Burwood DUI matters – the official list says Burwood is closed from 5 October and reopens 14 December 2026.
Parramatta Local Court – western Sydney.

The full set is on our NSW courts page.

How does a day at the Downing Centre usually run?

Expect security screening at the Liverpool Street entrance, then check the list boards for your courtroom on the Local Court floor. Several courtrooms run at once, so listen for your name and tell the court officer you are present. Bring your notice, your driving record, references, and any Traffic Offenders Program certificate. Our step-by-step NSW court guide explains the first mention and sentence hearing.

Can a city drink driving charge be defended?

Sometimes. Police must follow the Schedule 3 testing procedures, and a breath analysis generally has to happen within 2 hours of driving. Questions about whether you were driving, the timing of a morning-after reading, or how a drug sample was handled can matter. See NSW drink driving defences and drug presence charges in NSW.

Downing Centre Case Reviews & Insights (Video)

Watch short case reviews and practical guidance from our Sydney team. These videos help you understand process, preparation, and what courts consider on sentence.

Explore more on our video channel: BoormanLawyers.tv .

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Downing Centre drink driving FAQs

What floor is the Local Court criminal registry on?

Level 4 of the Downing Centre, 143–147 Liverpool Street, Sydney, according to the official Local Court list. The District Court criminal registry is on Level 3.

What is the postal address and fax?

PO Box A4, Sydney South 1235. The Local Court criminal fax is (02) 9287 7963. Phone 1300 679 272.

My notice says North Sydney. Where do I go?

The official list says North Sydney Local Court is temporarily closed and enquiries go to the Downing Centre. Phone the registry to confirm the venue before your date.

Can I get a licence for work while disqualified?

No. NSW has no work licence for drink or drug driving. After an interlock order, you can drive an interlock-fitted vehicle once the off-road period ends.

Will a penalty notice count against me later?

Yes. For 5 years it counts as a previous offence, so a later charge is a second offence.

Can I go without a conviction?

It is possible under section 10, depending on your record and the facts. Read about non-conviction outcomes for NSW drink driving.

Sources and date checked

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

Local Court of NSW – Court locations D (Downing Centre) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Local Court of NSW – Court locations N (North Sydney temporarily closed) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) – ss 9, 110–112, 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.

Downing Centre Local Court — court details

Downing Centre Local Court

Street: Level 4, Downing Centre, 143–147 Liverpool Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Postal: PO Box A4, Sydney South NSW 1235
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 – D and N (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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