NEW SOUTH WALES

Maclean DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Maclean Local Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Maclean Local Court at 2 Macnaughton Place deals with lower Clarence drink and drug driving charges and is open Wednesday to Friday, with matters that cannot wait sent to Grafton. We assist clients at Maclean 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: Maclean Local Court, 2 Macnaughton Place, Maclean NSW 2463. Phone 1300 679 272. Open Wednesday to Friday; registry 9am–1pm and 2pm–4pm.
Post: PO Box 7, Maclean NSW 2463. Time-critical matters go to Grafton Local Court.
Law: s 205 automatic disqualification on conviction; mandatory interlock for mid range, high range, DUI and refusal.

New South Wales law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

Call 1300 941 900 Make an enquiry about legal representation

What's on this page

Is Maclean Local Court open every weekday?

No – the official list shows it open Wednesday to Friday only, and matters that cannot wait are directed to Grafton Local Court.

What decides it:

The date on your court attendance notice. Turn up on that date even if it seems unusual.
Registry hours of 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm on open days; telephone enquiries go to 1300 679 272 from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Whether something cannot wait, such as a bail question, which goes to Grafton.

Maclean note: if you need paperwork from the registry, a Monday or Tuesday trip to Macnaughton Place will find it closed.

Will you lose your licence?

Yes, if you are convicted – s 205 of the Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) disqualifies you automatically, and only a section 10 outcome avoids that.

What decides it:

The charge and range. Novice, special, low range and drug presence carry 6 months automatically, reducible to 3 by the magistrate.
Mid range carries 3 to 6 months, then at least 12 months on an interlock; high range, drug-impaired driving and refusal carry 6 to 9 months, then at least 24 months on an interlock.
Whether this is a second offence within 5 years (s 9). Every period gets longer and every range attracts an interlock.

Maclean note: the Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) applies the same way in Maclean as in Sydney; there is no country concession and no work licence.

Could you be off the road before the court date?

Yes, for the more serious charges – police can hand you an immediate suspension notice under s 224.

What decides it:

Mid range, high range, drug-impaired driving or refusing a test: police may suspend on the spot, and the suspension runs until the charge is finished.
Novice, special, low range and drug presence: you can usually keep driving until court.
An appeal to the Local Court under s 268 only succeeds where there are exceptional circumstances. Our licence suspension appeal page explains the test.

Maclean note: because the court is not open Monday or Tuesday, an appeal may need to be filed through Grafton.

What is the penalty for each reading?

It depends on the s 110 range – the fine, any prison term and the disqualification all step up as the reading rises.

What decides it, for a first offence:

Novice (under 0.02, learners, P-platers, unlicensed): up to $2,200.
Special (0.02 to under 0.05, heavy vehicle, bus, taxi and dangerous goods drivers): up to $2,200.
Low (0.05 to under 0.08): up to $2,200.
Mid (0.08 to under 0.15): up to $2,200 and/or 9 months' prison.
High (0.15 and over): up to $3,300 and/or 18 months.
Driving under the influence or refusal: high range level.

Maclean note: the Transport for NSW table and our NSW drink driving penalties page hold every figure; check them before relying on a number.

Is the interlock something you choose?

No – for mid range, high range, drug-impaired driving and refusal it is a mandatory order, not an option.

What decides it:

An exemption order under s 212 is the only alternative, and it brings a longer disqualification.
The interlock period starts after the disqualification and runs until you have completed the minimum time on the device.
A section 10 outcome means no conviction, so no interlock.

Maclean note: interlock providers and service centres may be a drive away from the lower Clarence; factor that into planning. More on mandatory interlock orders.

Can you avoid a conviction?

Possibly – a magistrate can use section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, but it gets harder as the reading rises.

What decides it:

Your reading, the manner of driving and the reason you drove.
Your record. Under s 203 you cannot receive a second section 10 for a major offence within 5 years.
What you bring: references that acknowledge the charge, a Traffic Offenders Program certificate and evidence of how a conviction would affect you.

Maclean note: the factors are explained in our page on a no conviction outcome in NSW, and the s 10 provision is short enough to read yourself.

Do you have to go to court at all?

Not always – for a first novice, special, low range or drug presence offence, police may issue a penalty notice instead.

What decides it:

Police discretion. You cannot insist on a penalty notice.
Accepting one means a fine and a 3-month suspension, but no conviction.
It still counts as a previous offence for 5 years.

Maclean note: if you receive a court attendance notice instead, the date and court on it are what matter.

Is drug driving treated the same as drink driving?

Partly – the presence offence needs no proof of impairment, while driving under the influence does.

What decides it:

Section 111: presence of THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine in oral fluid, blood or urine.
Section 112: impairment by alcohol or any drug, with higher penalties and a mandatory interlock where alcohol is involved.
A medicinal cannabis prescription is not currently a defence to presence.

A 2026 change is coming. The Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Medical Cannabis and Driving Offences) Act 2026 (NSW) passed in September 2026 but, as at 21 October 2026, has not commenced. Until it starts, the drug presence offence applies to prescribed THC in the same way.

Maclean note: mobile drug testing on the Pacific Highway around the Maclean and Yamba turn-offs is commonly reported. See drug driving in NSW.

Can the charge be defended?

Sometimes – mainly where the evidence or procedure is open to question.

What decides it:

Whether the breath analysis was within 2 hours of driving and followed Schedule 3.
Whether you were actually driving or in control.
How a drug sample was collected and analysed.

Maclean note: our guide to NSW drink driving defences and the step-by-step court guide explain what happens next.

What should you prepare before your Maclean date?

A short, honest bundle of documents that shows the magistrate who you are and what has changed since the night you were stopped.

What decides it:

A copy of your driving record from Service NSW, so the court and you are working from the same history.
Two or three character references, signed and dated, from people who know about the charge and say so in the first paragraph.
A Traffic Offenders Program certificate, or proof that you have enrolled, and any counselling or medical letters if alcohol or drug use played a part.
An employer letter if a disqualification would affect your job, describing your duties and the travel involved rather than asking for leniency.
A realistic transport plan for the disqualification period, such as lifts to Yamba, Grafton or Woodburn worksites or a change of shift.

Maclean note: because the registry is only open three days a week and closes over lunch, collect anything you need from it well before the court date rather than on the morning itself.

What are the court's official details?

2 Macnaughton Place, Maclean NSW 2463 – open Wednesday to Friday.

Postal: PO Box 7, Maclean NSW 2463.
Phone 1300 679 272 (8.30am to 4.30pm); fax (02) 6569 2869.
Registry 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm on open days.
Time-critical matters: Grafton Local Court.

Bring your notice, your driving record, references and any program certificate.

Which courts are near Maclean?

Grafton Local Court – about 45 km south-west, and where time-critical matters go.
Ballina drink driving charges – about 85 km north.
Lismore DUI matters – about 95 km north.

See every location on NSW courts we attend.

What clients say

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Maclean drink driving FAQs

What days is Maclean Local Court open?

Wednesday to Friday, according to the official list. Time-critical matters go to Grafton.

What is the phone number?

1300 679 272, answered 8.30am to 4.30pm.

Can I drive to court if my licence was suspended at the roadside?

No. Driving while suspended is a separate offence. Arrange a lift.

Is the interlock mandatory for a mid range first offence?

Yes, unless the court makes an exemption order or deals with you under section 10.

Does NSW have a work licence?

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

Does a penalty notice count against me later?

Yes. It counts as a previous offence for 5 years.

Sources and date checked

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

Local Court of NSW – Court locations M (Maclean) — 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.

Maclean Local Court — court details

Maclean Local Court

Street: 2 Macnaughton Place, Maclean NSW 2463
Postal: PO Box 7, Maclean NSW 2463
Phone: 1300 679 272
Registry hours: Registry 9.00am – 1.00pm and 2.00pm – 4.00pm; telephone 8.30am – 4.30pm
Days open: Wednesday to Friday
Facilities: Time-critical matters directed to Grafton Local Court

➜ Get directions

Local Court of NSW, Court locations – M (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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