NEW SOUTH WALES

Grafton DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Grafton Local and District Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Grafton Local and District Court at 47 Victoria Street hears drink and drug driving charges from across the Clarence Valley, Monday to Friday. We assist clients at Grafton Local and District 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: Grafton Local and District Court, 47 Victoria Street, Grafton NSW 2460. Phone 1300 679 272. Registry 9am–1pm and 2pm–4pm, Monday to Friday.
Post: PO Box 16, Grafton NSW 2460.
Law: s 205 disqualification is automatic on conviction; NSW has no work licence.

New South Wales law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

Call 1300 941 900 Make an enquiry about legal representation

What's on this page

What gets said around Grafton, and what does the law say?

Here is the short version. Each line is explained further down.

Heard around town	What the law says	Where it comes from
"Only the big readings lose their licence."	Every conviction for PCA, drug presence or DUI brings disqualification.	Road Transport Act s 205
"Get a work licence and keep driving to the farm."	NSW has no work or hardship licence for these offences.	No provision in the Act
"The interlock is something you ask for."	For mid range and above it is ordered by the court, and is mandatory.	ss 209–212
"A first offence always gets a section 10."	Possible, never automatic, and barred after a recent section 10.	Sentencing Act s 10; RTA s 203
"No court, no record."	A penalty notice still counts as an offence for 5 years.	s 9
"Appeal the roadside suspension and you're back on the road."	Only in exceptional circumstances.	s 268
"Cannabis from last weekend can't matter."	Presence is enough; impairment does not have to be proved.	s 111
"Off the highway, the rules don't apply."	They apply on any road or road related area.	s 110–112

Do only high readings lead to disqualification?

No. Section 205 of the Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) makes disqualification automatic once a conviction is recorded, at any range. The reading changes how long and whether an interlock follows. For a first offence:

Reading or charge	Licence after conviction	Top penalty
Novice (under 0.02, L/P/unlicensed), special (0.02–under 0.05, heavy vehicle, bus, taxi, dangerous goods) or low (0.05–under 0.08)	6 months; magistrate may reduce to 3	$2,200
Mid (0.08–under 0.15)	3–6 months off, then 12 months or more with an interlock	$2,200 and/or 9 months' jail
High (0.15+), DUI or refusal	6–9 months off, then 24 months or more with an interlock	$3,300 and/or 18 months' jail
Illicit drug present	6 months; may reduce to 3	$2,200

See what NSW drink driving penalties apply for repeat offences.

Can you get a work licence to keep driving in the Clarence Valley?

No. People who move from Queensland, or who remember other schemes, often expect one. NSW has no work licence, hardship licence or restricted licence for drink or drug driving. During disqualification you cannot drive at all, including to a cane farm, cattle property, job site or the hospital. What the magistrate can do is weigh the effect of losing your licence when setting the length within the legal range.

Is the interlock optional?

No. For a first mid range, high range, DUI or refusal conviction, the court must make an interlock order. You can avoid it only through an exemption order on narrow grounds, such as no access to a vehicle or a medical condition, and an exemption brings a longer disqualification. After a second offence within 5 years, every drink driving range leads to an interlock. Our plain-English NSW interlock guide covers the device, the provider and costs.

Does a first offence always get a section 10?

No. Under s 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, the magistrate can dismiss the charge or make a conditional release order without conviction, which means no disqualification. Whether that happens depends on the reading, the driving, your record and your circumstances. Section 203 of the Road Transport Act rules it out if you have had a section 10 for a major offence in the previous 5 years. We cover the factors on our NSW non-conviction page.

If you pay a penalty notice, is it forgotten?

No. For a first novice, special, low range or drug presence offence, police can issue a penalty notice: a fine and a 3-month suspension, without court or conviction. But s 9 still counts it as an offence. A further drink or drug driving offence within 5 years is then a second offence, with higher maximum penalties, an interlock for every range and the Driver Knowledge Test before relicensing. Current amounts are on the Transport for NSW penalty page.

Will appealing the roadside suspension get you driving again?

Rarely. For mid range, high range, DUI or refusal, police can issue an immediate suspension notice under s 224, effective at once and lasting until the charge is finished. An appeal to the Local Court under s 268 succeeds only in exceptional circumstances. The distances in the Clarence Valley are real, but on their own they are not usually exceptional. Read about NSW suspension appeals first.

Can old cannabis use still lead to a charge?

Yes. Driving with an illicit drug present (s 111) is proved by detecting THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine in saliva, blood or urine. Police do not need to show you were affected, and "I felt fine" is not a defence. Impairment is relevant to the separate, more serious charge of driving under the influence (s 112). See drug driving law in NSW.

Do the rules apply off the main roads?

Yes. The offences apply to driving a motor vehicle on a road or road related area, which covers back roads, river roads and many car parks, not just the Pacific Highway or Summerland Way. A ute, truck, motorbike or quad bike on a public road is covered.

What actually helps at Victoria Street?

Organised material. A magistrate in Grafton hears many matters in a sitting, and a tidy bundle is easier to take in than a story told from memory. Aim to hand up:

your NSW driving record (a clean or old record matters);
proof you have finished a Traffic Offenders Program;
two or three signed references whose writers acknowledge the charge;
a short letter from whoever you work for, describing the driving the job needs, whether that is cattle work out towards Copmanhurst, cane haulage near Ulmarra or shift work at the hospital;
medical or counselling reports, if they explain anything relevant.

Bring the notice itself and any suspension paperwork too.

If the facts are in dispute, for example about whether you were driving or whether the breath analysis was within 2 hours, read defending a drink driving charge in NSW. Our NSW court process guide explains each appearance.

What if you were only visiting the Clarence Valley?

The same rules apply. People in town for the Jacaranda Festival, a race meeting at Clarence River Jockey Club, a wedding or seasonal harvest work are charged under NSW law like everyone else, and the case is listed at Grafton even if they live elsewhere. Interstate licence holders face the same ranges and penalties, and a NSW disqualification stops them driving in NSW; other licensing authorities are notified. If you live a long way from Grafton, do not simply ignore the date. Contact the registry well beforehand to ask about your options, and plan how you will get to Victoria Street without driving if you are suspended.

Where is Grafton Local Court and when is it open?

The official Local Court list gives 47 Victoria Street, Grafton NSW 2460, with postal address PO Box 16, Grafton NSW 2460. Phone 1300 679 272; fax (02) 6641 5690. The registry is open 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm, and phones 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. AVL facilities are available. Allow time for security screening, and expect to wait while the list is called.

Which courts are near Grafton?

Maclean Local Court – about 45 km north-east, lower Clarence.
Coffs Harbour drink driving charges – about 85 km south.
Casino DUI matters – about 100 km north on the Summerland Way.

See every NSW court we attend.

What clients say

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Grafton drink driving FAQs

What are Grafton Local Court's details?

47 Victoria Street, Grafton NSW 2460; PO Box 16, Grafton NSW 2460; phone 1300 679 272; fax (02) 6641 5690. Registry 9am–1pm and 2pm–4pm, Monday to Friday.

Is there a work licence in NSW?

No. There is no work or hardship licence for drink or drug driving disqualifications.

Do I have to have an interlock after a mid range conviction?

Yes, unless the court makes an exemption order, which brings a longer disqualification instead.

Does a penalty notice count as a previous offence?

Yes, for 5 years.

Can I drive before court if police suspended me?

No. The suspension lasts until the charge is dealt with, unless the Local Court lifts it on appeal.

Is "I felt fine" a defence to drug driving?

No, not to a presence charge under s 111.

Sources and date checked

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

Local Court of NSW – Court locations G (Grafton) — 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) – Drink and drug driving penalties — 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.

Grafton Local and District Court — court details

Grafton Local and District Court

Street: 47 Victoria Street, Grafton NSW 2460
Postal: PO Box 16, Grafton NSW 2460
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

➜ Get directions

Local Court of NSW, Court locations – G (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

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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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