NEW SOUTH WALES

Finley DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Finley Local Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Finley Local Court sits one Tuesday a month, in week 4. We assist clients at Finley 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: Finley Local Court, corner of Denison and Ulupna Streets, Finley NSW 2713. Sits on Tuesdays in week 4 of the month. Phone 1300 679 272.
No work licence: NSW does not issue work or hardship licences for drink or drug driving disqualifications.
Law: NSW Road Transport Act 2013. A first mid range offence means a mandatory interlock order on conviction.

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

What happens to your licence after a Finley charge?

It is a fair first question. Across the southern Riverina, a licence usually means getting to a farm, moving grain or stock, or driving the long distances to Deniliquin, Tocumwal, Berrigan or Albury. The answer comes in three stages, and none of them involves a work licence.

Stage 1 – from the roadside to the court date

For mid range, high range, DUI, refusal and some other charges, police can give you an immediate suspension notice (Road Transport Act 2013 s 224). Some lower-range offences dealt with by penalty notice also carry an on-the-spot suspension. The suspension lasts until the court deals with the charge, and in a court that sits one Tuesday a month, that can be weeks. You can appeal it, but the court can lift it only if exceptional circumstances justify it (s 268). Inconvenience to work is not enough on its own. See our licence suspension appeal guide.

Stage 2 – the sentence

On conviction, the law fixes a disqualification or interlock order for each charge. The court's room to move depends on the charge:

Charge (first offence)	What happens to the licence	Can the court shorten it?
Novice, special or low range PCA	6 months automatically	Yes, to no less than 3 months
Illicit drug present (s 111)	6 months automatically	Yes, to no less than 3 months
Mid range PCA	Interlock order: 3–6 months off the road, then at least 12 months with an interlock	Only within the 3–6 month range
High range PCA, alcohol DUI or refusal	Interlock order: 6–9 months off the road, then at least 24 months with an interlock	Only within the 6–9 month range

These are first-offence figures. A second offence within 5 years brings longer periods, and a drink or drug driving penalty notice in that period counts as a prior (s 9(2A)). You may also need to pass the Driver Knowledge Test before being relicensed. Our NSW drink driving penalties guide gives fines, prison maximums and repeat-offence figures.

Stage 3 – the interlock period

Living in a rural area is not a ground for an interlock exemption. If you have no interlock installed once your disqualification ends, you cannot drive. If you never join the program, you face a 5-year disqualification. Transport for NSW sets the device servicing intervals, with longer gaps for remote areas. Before sentence, check the Transport for NSW interlock information and the nearest provider. Our interlock guide explains the program.

Is there really no work licence in NSW?

Correct. Some websites, including earlier versions of this page, have suggested a "work licence" or "special hardship licence" for NSW drink or drug driving. That is wrong. Those are Queensland concepts and do not exist in NSW law. The only ways to keep driving, or get back on the road sooner, are:

a successful suspension appeal, which needs exceptional circumstances;
the court reducing an automatic disqualification within the legal minimum;
a section 10 outcome without conviction, which means no automatic disqualification;
complying fully with an interlock order.

The NSW good behaviour option is for demerit point suspensions. It does not apply to court disqualifications.

When can a Finley matter end without a conviction?

The court can dismiss the charge, or make a conditional release order without recording a conviction, under section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999. It weighs your character, record, age, health and mental condition, how trivial or serious the offence was, and any extenuating circumstances. The order is not available if you received a section 10 for a similar offence in the past 5 years (RTA s 203). Our no conviction guide sets out what helps.

Which rules matter most for Riverina work drivers?

Heavy vehicles. If you drive a vehicle with a gross vehicle mass over 13.9 tonnes, such as a grain truck or semi, the special range applies to you: 0.02 or more, but under 0.05.

Learner and P-platers. Farm and harvest workers on L or P plates must not drive with any alcohol.

The morning after. Early starts at harvest catch drivers whose alcohol has not yet cleared. A reading within 2 hours of driving is taken to be the reading at the time of driving unless you prove otherwise.

Drugs. Under section 111 the presence of THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine is an offence, and impairment does not have to be proved. See our NSW drug driving guide and the NSW drink driving offences guide.

How do you prepare when the court sits monthly?

Lock in the date. Missing it can mean a warrant or a decision in your absence, and the next sitting is a month away.
Start a Traffic Offenders Program straight away. Check first that the court accepts the provider and format.
Get the employer letter right. It should state your role, routes, hours and what disqualification would mean. Asking for a "work licence" is not the point.
Plan transport for the interlock. Find out where the nearest installer is and how often you would need to attend.
Organise a lift home if you are likely to be disqualified on the day.

Where else might a southern Riverina matter be heard?

Finley is administered with a postal address in Albury. Other courts on this site in the region are Corowa (about 83 km), Albury (about 131 km) and Hay (about 144 km). You attend the court named on your court attendance notice. Statewide information is on our NSW traffic law page.

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Finley drink driving FAQs

Where and when does Finley Local Court sit?

At the corner of Denison and Ulupna Streets, Finley, on Tuesdays in week 4 of the month. The phone line, 1300 679 272, operates 8.30am to 4.30pm. Mail goes to PO Box 64, Albury NSW 2640.

Can I get a work licence if I'm disqualified for drink driving in NSW?

No. NSW has no work licence or hardship licence for drink or drug driving. The options are a suspension appeal (on exceptional circumstances), a reduced automatic disqualification within the minimum, a section 10 outcome, or compliance with an interlock order.

I drive trucks at harvest. Is my limit 0.05?

Not if the vehicle's gross vehicle mass is over 13.9 tonnes. Then you are a special category driver and the limit is under 0.02.

Can the court let me drive while I wait for my date?

Only if you appeal the immediate suspension and the court finds exceptional circumstances. If there was no suspension notice, you can usually keep driving until the court deals with the matter, unless some other suspension applies.

Does the interlock apply to a first offence?

Yes, for mid range, high range, alcohol DUI and refusal. On conviction for those offences, the court must make an interlock order unless it grants one of the narrow exemptions, and living in a remote area is not one of them.

Sources and date checked

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

Local Court of NSW – Court locations F (Finley) — 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) – Drink and drug driving penalties — checked 20 Oct 2026
Transport for NSW – Mandatory 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.

Finley Local Court — court details

Finley Local Court

Street: Cnr Denison and Ulupna Streets, Finley NSW 2713
Postal: PO Box 64, Albury NSW 2640
Phone: 1300 679 272
Registry hours: Registry 10.00am – 1.00pm and 2.00pm – 3.00pm (sitting days); telephone 8.30am – 4.30pm
Days open: Tuesdays in week 4 of the month

➜ Get directions

Local Court of NSW, Court locations – F (localcourt.nsw.gov.au), saved 19 Oct 2026. Official fax (03) 5898 4046. 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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