NEW SOUTH WALES

Kiama DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Kiama Local Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Kiama Local Court at 34–36 Terralong Street sits on the first Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of each month. We assist clients at Kiama 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: Kiama Local Court, 34–36 Terralong Street, Kiama NSW 2533. Phone 1300 679 272. Sits on the first Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the month (sitting days only).
Penalty notice or court: some first low range and drug presence offences can be dealt with by penalty notice, with a 3-month suspension. A court can impose more, or less.
Law: NSW Road Transport Act 2013. Section 10 is not available if you had one in the past 5 years.

New South Wales law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

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What's on this page

What does a Kiama charge mean for getting around?

Kiama sits on the Princes Highway between Shellharbour and Gerringong, and the court is at 34–36 Terralong Street in the town centre. Trains on the South Coast line stop at Kiama, but options thin out towards Jamberoo, Gerringong's farms and the hinterland, so a disqualification can make work, school runs and appointments hard to manage. Write down how you would get to work, and to court, without a car. That plan is useful evidence at sentence.

The sitting pattern. The court sits only on the first Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of each month. If your matter is adjourned, it may be a month before it comes back, and any immediate suspension runs the whole time.

Visitors. The Blowhole, the Coast Walk, Gerringong and Jamberoo draw day trippers and weekend visitors. If you hold an interstate licence, a NSW suspension notice still stops you driving in NSW (s 224(4)(b)). NSW also passes information about some offences to your home licensing authority (s 29(3)). Ask a lawyer in your home state how that affects your licence there.

Short trips home. A charge can follow a drive that seemed short: home from a Terralong Street venue, a wedding or a function at Minnamurra. The distance makes no difference to the offence.

The morning after. An early start after a late night can still produce a positive reading.

What penalties can Kiama Local Court impose?

Start with the numbers. These are the maximum first-offence penalties under the Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW), at $110 per penalty unit, and the licence result on conviction:

Charge (first offence)	Reading or test	Maximum fine	Maximum prison	Licence
Novice range PCA	under 0.02 (L, P, interlock, unlicensed)	$2,200	–	6 months; reducible to 3
Special range PCA	0.02 to under 0.05 (special category drivers)	$2,200	–	6 months; reducible to 3
Low range PCA	0.05 to under 0.08	$2,200	–	6 months; reducible to 3
Drug presence (s 111)	THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine	$2,200	–	6 months; reducible to 3
Mid range PCA	0.08 to under 0.15	$2,200	9 months	Interlock order: 3–6 months off, then 12+ months on an interlock
High range PCA	0.15 or more	$3,300	18 months	Interlock order: 6–9 months off, then 24+ months on an interlock
DUI (s 112)	impairment by alcohol or drugs	$3,300	18 months	Interlock order for alcohol DUI, as for high range

And for a second offence within 5 years?

The ceilings rise. A second high range or DUI offence carries up to $5,500 and 2 years' prison, and the interlock periods get longer. A drink or drug driving penalty notice in the past 5 years counts as a prior (s 9(2A)). Our NSW drink driving penalties guide has the full second-offence table, and Transport for NSW publishes the official penalties summary.

Should you take a penalty notice or go to court?

Some first low range PCA and first drug presence offences can be dealt with by penalty notice instead of a court attendance notice. The two paths compare like this:

	Penalty notice	Court
Fine	Fixed amount	Up to $2,200, set by the magistrate
Licence	3-month suspension from the notice (s 224)	6 months automatically, which the court can reduce to 3, or none at all with a section 10
Conviction	No conviction	Conviction, unless the court makes a section 10 order
Counts as a prior for 5 years?	Yes (s 9(2A))	Yes
Can you choose?	You can elect to go to court instead of paying	–

Which is better depends on your record, the reading and how much a suspension of 3 months, or of 6 months reduced to 3, would affect you. A section 10 is only possible in court, and the court can also impose more than the notice. Get advice before the payment date. Electing to go to court cannot always be undone.

When does the interlock apply?

On conviction for mid range, high range, alcohol DUI and refusal of breath analysis, the court must make an interlock order, apart from narrow exemptions. Living on the South Coast does not count. If you never join the program, you face a 5-year disqualification. See our NSW alcohol interlock guide.

Can you be suspended before court?

Yes. For mid range, high range, DUI, refusal and some other offences, police can issue an immediate suspension notice (s 224). It lasts until the court deals with the charge, which at Kiama means a sitting at the start of a month. You can appeal, but the court will lift the suspension only if exceptional circumstances justify that (s 268). Our licence suspension appeal guide explains the test.

Is a conviction automatic?

No. Under section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, the court may dismiss the charge or impose a conditional release order without conviction. The court weighs your character, record, age, health, the seriousness of the offence and any extenuating circumstances. There is no section 10 if you received one for a similar offence in the past 5 years (RTA s 203). With no conviction, the automatic disqualification and interlock order do not apply. A guilty plea is also taken into account at sentence (s 22). Read more in our no conviction guide.

What should you prepare before your Kiama date?

A completed Traffic Offenders Program, after confirming the court accepts the course.
References that show the writer knows about the charge.
An employer letter, especially if you commute up the Princes Highway or drive for work.
Evidence of counselling, if alcohol or drug use is part of the background.
A transport plan, and for mid range and above, a plan for interlock fitting.

Check the offence details first in our NSW drink driving offences guide, or our drug driving guide if drugs were detected.

Which courts are near Kiama?

The nearest courts on this site are Wollongong (about 27 km), Nowra (about 33 km), Moss Vale (about 46 km) and Picton (about 60 km). Attend the court named on your notice. More is on our NSW traffic law page.

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Kiama drink driving FAQs

Where is Kiama Local Court and when does it sit?

At 34–36 Terralong Street, Kiama NSW 2533, on the first Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the month. Phone 1300 679 272 (8.30am to 4.30pm). Mail goes to PO Box 27, Kiama NSW 2533.

Is a 3-month penalty notice suspension better than going to court?

Not always. The court can reduce the automatic disqualification to 3 months, or make a section 10 order with no automatic disqualification, but it can also impose a higher fine. It depends on your record and circumstances, so get advice before you pay or elect.

Will my interlock period start straight away?

No. You serve the disqualification period first. Then you have the device fitted and apply for an interlock licence.

Can the Kiama court hear my matter by AVL?

The official list shows AVL facilities at Kiama. Whether you can appear by AVL is a matter for the court.

Do I have to go to court if I was suspended?

If you have a court attendance notice, yes. You must attend on the date shown unless the court excuses you. The suspension continues until the charge is finalised.

What if both alcohol and drugs were detected?

NSW has a combined alcohol and drug driving offence (RTA s 111A). It applies where a mid range or high range reading is combined with an illicit drug in your system, and the maximum penalties are higher. For a first offence, mid range plus a drug carries up to $3,300 and/or 18 months' prison, and high range plus a drug up to $5,500 and/or 2 years. It is a mandatory interlock offence, even for a first offence (s 209). Drug-only DUI does not trigger a mandatory interlock order, but it carries its own disqualification. Check the exact charge on your notice and get advice before deciding how to plead.

Sources and date checked

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

Local Court of NSW – Court locations K (Kiama) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) – current version (ss 9, 29, 110, 111, 111A, 112, 203, 205, 209–212, 224, 268) — checked 20 Oct 2026
Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) – ss 9, 10, 10A, 22 — 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.

Kiama Local Court — court details

Kiama Local Court

Street: 34–36 Terralong Street, Kiama NSW 2533
Postal: PO Box 27, Kiama NSW 2533
Phone: 1300 679 272
Registry hours: Registry 9.00am – 1.00pm and 2.00pm – 4.00pm; telephone 8.30am – 4.30pm
Days open: First Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the month (court sitting days only)
Facilities: Audio visual link (AVL) facilities

➜ Get directions

Local Court of NSW, Court locations – K (localcourt.nsw.gov.au), saved 19 Oct 2026. Official fax (02) 4232 7190. 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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