NEW SOUTH WALES

Manly DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Manly Local Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Manly Local Court at 2 Belgrave Street hears drink and drug driving charges from across the Northern Beaches, Monday to Friday. The peninsula has limited road access and no train line, so getting to court without a licence takes planning. We assist clients at Manly 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: Manly Local Court, 2 Belgrave Street, Manly NSW 2095. Phone 1300 679 272. Registry 9am–4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Post: PO Box 125, Manly NSW 1655.
Getting there: buses along Pittwater Road and the Manly ferry from Circular Quay; no train.

New South Wales law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

Call 1300 941 900 Make an enquiry about legal representation

General image – not this courthouse.

What's on this page

How do you reach Manly Local Court without driving?

By bus or ferry. There is no train on the Northern Beaches, and if police have suspended your licence at the roadside, driving to court is a new offence. 2 Belgrave Street is a short walk from Manly Wharf and the bus stops near The Corso. Pick the card below that matches where you live.

Card 1: Pittwater and the northern beaches

Roads: Pittwater Road, Barrenjoey Road, Mona Vale Road.
To court: the B-Line or Pittwater Road buses south to Manly; allow well over an hour from Palm Beach or Avalon in morning traffic.
Typical stops: late-evening RBT on Pittwater Road near Mona Vale and Narrabeen, and morning-after tests on the way to work.

Card 2: The Forest and the Wakehurst corridor

Roads: Warringah Road, Wakehurst Parkway, Forest Way.
To court: a bus to Dee Why or Brookvale, then a Pittwater Road service to Manly, or a lift; the Parkway has no direct public transport into Manly.
Typical stops: Wakehurst Parkway and Warringah Road around Frenchs Forest.

Card 3: Dee Why to Manly and the harbour side

Roads: Pittwater Road, Condamine Street, Sydney Road, Military Road, the Spit Bridge.
To court: walk or a short bus; from the lower north shore or the city, the Manly ferry from Circular Quay.
Typical stops: after a night out around The Corso, Manly Wharf or Dee Why beachfront, and at the Spit Bridge approaches.

Police can test anyone, anywhere, without a reason, so these are patterns, not rules. Whatever the card says, your court attendance notice decides where you appear.

What happens after a positive roadside test?

You are taken for a breath analysis, usually at a police station or in a testing bus, which generally must be done within 2 hours of driving. For drugs, a positive oral fluid screen leads to a second sample sent for laboratory analysis. If the reading is mid range or above, or the charge is drug-impaired driving or refusal, police can hand you an immediate suspension notice (section 224 of the NSW Road Transport Act). It lasts until the court finishes the case. An appeal under s 268 only succeeds in exceptional circumstances; our page on appealing a NSW licence suspension explains it.

What penalty applies to your reading?

The s 110 range decides. First-offence summary:

Range	Reading	Fine / prison maximum	Off the road	Interlock afterwards
Novice	under 0.02 (L, P, unlicensed)	$2,200	6 months, down to 3	–
Special	0.02 to under 0.05 (heavy vehicle, bus, taxi)	$2,200	6 months, down to 3	–
Low	0.05 to under 0.08	$2,200	6 months, down to 3	–
Mid	0.08 to under 0.15	$2,200 / 9 months	3 to 6 months	at least 12 months
High	0.15 or more	$3,300 / 18 months	6 to 9 months	at least 24 months

Drug-impaired driving and refusal sit with high range. Drug presence matches low range. Section 205 makes the disqualification automatic once you are convicted, and a second offence within 5 years (s 9) raises every figure and adds an interlock at every range. Our NSW drink driving penalty guide has the second-offence table.

Must you do the interlock?

Yes. Mid range, high range, drug-impaired driving and refusal each lead to an interlock order unless the court makes an exemption order under s 212, which brings a longer disqualification instead. Only once the disqualification ends does the interlock period begin. See the NSW interlock scheme.

Can you avoid a conviction at Manly?

Sometimes. Under the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act's section 10, a Manly magistrate may find the offence proved yet record no conviction, either dismissing it outright or making a conditional release order. There is then no automatic disqualification and no interlock. Section 203 rules out a second s 10 for a major offence within 5 years. Lower readings, a clean record, references and finishing a NSW Traffic Offenders Program course all help; read section 10 explained.

For a first novice, special, low range or drug presence offence, police may issue a penalty notice rather than a court date: a fine and 3 months' suspension, with no conviction, but it counts for 5 years.

What if you need to drive for work on the peninsula?

There is no such thing as a NSW work licence after a drink or drug driving disqualification. With no train line and long bus trips from Pittwater, a disqualification can be harder to manage here than in other parts of Sydney. Plan lifts, rideshare or a change of roster early, and get an employer letter describing the impact: it is relevant to s 10 and to the length of disqualification, but it cannot create a licence.

Does drug driving work the same way?

Under s 111, police need show only that one of four drugs – THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine – was in your system; whether it affected your driving is irrelevant. A medical cannabis prescription is not currently a defence. By contrast, a s 112 charge of driving under the influence depends on proof that you were impaired, and the penalties are heavier. Details: drug driving charges in NSW. If you doubt the sample handling or whether you were driving, see possible defences in NSW.

Reform has passed but is not yet in force. The NSW medical cannabis and driving offences amending Act received assent on 23 September 2026 and starts on a date still to be proclaimed (not proclaimed as at 21 October 2026). Until then the current s 111 rules apply.

What are Manly Local Court's details?

Official list: 2 Belgrave Street, Manly NSW 2095; postal PO Box 125, Manly NSW 1655; phone 1300 679 272; fax (02) 9934 4545. The counter is staffed weekdays from 9am until 4.30pm, and phones are answered from 8.30am. Court room 1 has audio visual link equipment. Allow time for security screening. Our NSW court process steps explain the order of the day.

Which courts are close to Manly?

Downing Centre Local Court – about 11 km by road, or the ferry and a short walk.
Waverley drink driving matters – about 11 km south across the harbour.
Newtown DUI charges – about 15 km south-west.

Other locations: our NSW court list.

Watch Our DUI Case Reviews

These short videos explain how preparation, insight, and practical steps can influence sentencing outcomes at NSW Local Courts.

DUI Case Review 1

DUI Case Review 2

DUI Case Review 3

DUI Case Review 4

What clients say

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Manly drink driving FAQs

What is the phone number for Manly Local Court?

1300 679 272, answered 8.30am to 4.30pm on weekdays.

Can I catch the ferry to court?

Yes. Manly Wharf is a short walk from Belgrave Street.

Is Manly the same court as North Sydney?

No. Manly is the Northern Beaches court. North Sydney is a separate court.

Do I need an interlock for a high range first offence?

Yes, after a 6 to 9 month disqualification, unless the court makes an exemption order or deals with you under section 10.

Can I get a licence just for work?

No. NSW does not offer one for these offences.

Will a penalty notice count against me later?

Yes, for 5 years, even though there is no conviction.

Sources and date checked

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

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

Manly Local Court — court details

Manly Local Court

Street: 2 Belgrave Street, Manly NSW 2095
Postal: PO Box 125, Manly NSW 1655
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 in court room 1

➜ 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

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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