NEW SOUTH WALES

Moruya DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Moruya Local Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Moruya Local Court on Vulcan Street hears Eurobodalla drink and drug driving charges, sitting on the first, second and third Friday after the first Monday of each month. We assist clients at Moruya 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: Moruya Local Court, Vulcan Street, Moruya NSW 2537. Phone 1300 679 272. Sits the first, second and third Friday after the first Monday; registry 9.30am–1pm and 2pm–3.30pm.
Post: PO Box 33, Moruya NSW 2537.
Law: s 110 ranges; s 205 automatic disqualification; mandatory interlock from mid range.

New South Wales law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

Call 1300 941 900 Make an enquiry about legal representation

What's on this page

Which range are you in?

That depends on two things: your reading and the kind of licence you hold. Section 110 of the Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) sets the ranges. Find your licence type in the left column, then read across.

Your licence	Under 0.02	0.02 to under 0.05	0.05 to under 0.08	0.08 to under 0.15	0.15 and over
Full (open) car or rider licence	No offence	No offence	Low range	Mid range	High range
Learner or provisional (P1/P2)	Novice range (any reading above zero)	Special range	Low range	Mid range	High range
Heavy vehicle, bus, taxi, hire car or dangerous goods driver while working	No offence	Special range	Low range	Mid range	High range
Unlicensed, suspended or disqualified	Novice range	Special range	Low range	Mid range	High range

Drug driving is separate. Driving with THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine present (s 111) is an offence at any level, for any licence type. Driving under the influence (s 112) needs proof of impairment by alcohol or a drug. Refusing a breath or drug test is its own offence.

What follows from each range?

For a first offence, these are the consequences on conviction:

Offence	Maximum fine	Maximum prison	Automatic disqualification (minimum)	Interlock after disqualification
Novice, special or low range	$2,200	–	6 months (3)	–
Mid range	$2,200	9 months	3–6 months with an interlock order	at least 12 months
High range	$3,300	18 months	6–9 months with an interlock order	at least 24 months
DUI or refusal	$3,300	18 months	6–9 months with an interlock order	at least 24 months
Drug present (s 111)	$2,200	–	6 months (3)	–

If the court instead makes an interlock exemption order, the disqualification is longer. Section 205 applies the disqualification automatically once you are convicted. A second offence within 5 years (s 9) raises all of these and brings an interlock at every range. Our NSW penalties overview carries the repeat-offence figures.

What does that look like for a Eurobodalla driver?

Four hypothetical examples show how the tables work in practice. They are illustrations, not predictions.

A P2 driver from Broulee, 0.015 on George Bass Drive. Under the table, any reading above zero is novice range for a provisional driver. On a first offence, police may issue a penalty notice: a fine and a 3-month suspension. If it goes to court and a conviction is recorded, the disqualification is 6 months automatically, which the magistrate can reduce to 3. There is no interlock. Section 10 is a real possibility for a low reading with a clean record.

A tradesperson from Tuross Head, 0.065 after a work function. This is low range for a full licence holder. The consequences match the novice row: no interlock, a possible penalty notice on a first offence, and a 6-month disqualification on conviction.

A truck driver heading north on the Princes Highway, 0.03 while working. For a heavy vehicle driver this is special range. Losing a licence may mean losing the job, and NSW offers no work licence.

A full licence holder stopped in Moruya on a Saturday night, 0.11. Mid range: police can suspend the licence on the spot, the charge goes to court, and on conviction the court must make an interlock order unless it grants an exemption. The disqualification of 3 to 6 months is followed by at least 12 months on the device.

In each case, a second offence within 5 years would move the driver into the repeat-offence penalties, including an interlock at every range.

Is a penalty notice possible instead of court?

For a first novice, special, low range or drug presence offence, yes, at police discretion. You pay a fine and serve a 3-month suspension. There is no conviction and no court date, but it counts as an offence for 5 years. Mid range and above always go to court.

When does Moruya Local Court sit?

The official list says the court opens on the first, second and third Friday of the month after the first Monday. In practice that means three Fridays a month, counted from the first Monday. For example, if the first Monday of November 2026 is the 2nd, the sitting Fridays would be 6, 13 and 20 November. Registry hours on sitting days are 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 3.30pm; phones are answered from 8.30am to 4.30pm on 1300 679 272.

If a matter cannot wait for a Moruya sitting, ask the registry which court to use; Batemans Bay is the nearest full-time option.

Is the interlock compulsory?

Yes, for mid range, high range, drug-impaired driving and refusal. The court must make a mandatory interlock order unless it makes an exemption order under s 212. An exemption is narrow and brings a longer disqualification rather than a free pass. Low, special, novice and drug presence first offences do not attract an interlock. Read our interlock guide for NSW drivers.

Can the court avoid recording a conviction?

It can, under section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999: a dismissal or a conditional release order without conviction. With no conviction there is no s 205 disqualification and no interlock. The higher the range, the harder that becomes, and s 203 of the Road Transport Act prevents a second s 10 for a major offence within 5 years. Evidence that helps includes references, an employer letter and a certificate from the Traffic Offenders Program. For more, see keeping a conviction off your record.

Can you keep driving until your Friday court date?

For novice, special, low range and drug presence charges, usually yes. For mid range, high range, drug-impaired driving and refusal, police can give you an immediate suspension notice under s 224, lasting until the charge is decided. Because Moruya sits only on certain Fridays, that can be a long stretch. An appeal under s 268 succeeds only in exceptional circumstances; see challenging an immediate suspension. NSW has no work licence, and driving while suspended is a further offence.

What about drug driving and medicinal cannabis?

The presence offence needs no proof of impairment. A medicinal cannabis prescription is not currently a defence to it. Driving under the influence of a drug, by contrast, needs impairment and carries high range penalties. Our drug driving penalties page explains both.

Could the reading itself be challenged?

Note the date: Parliament passed a medical cannabis driving reform (Act No 33 of 2026) in September 2026, but no commencement has been proclaimed as at 21 October 2026. For now, a prescription for THC is still not a defence to driving with cannabis present. Sometimes. A breath analysis generally must be done within 2 hours of driving and follow Schedule 3. Errors in the procedure, doubts about who was driving, or problems with a drug sample can matter. Our pages on defending a PCA or drug charge and what happens in a NSW DUI case explain the process.

Where is the court?

Vulcan Street, Moruya NSW 2537, close to the town centre. Postal: PO Box 33, Moruya NSW 2537. Phone 1300 679 272; fax (02) 4474 3418. AVL facilities are available. The official list gives no street number. Bring your notice, your driving record and printed copies of any references or certificates.

If police suspended your licence, plan how you will get to Vulcan Street from Narooma, Tuross Head, Broulee or Batemans Bay without driving. Regional bus services along the Princes Highway are limited, so a lift from a family member or friend is often the practical answer. Arrive early: the registry opens at 9.30am on sitting days, there is security screening at the entrance, and several matters are usually listed before the magistrate starts. Keep a spare copy of every document for the prosecutor, and have a phone number for your employer or referee in case the magistrate asks a question about them.

Which courts are near Moruya?

Batemans Bay Local Court – about 24 km north.
Narooma drink driving charges – about 34 km south.
Milton DUI matters – about 74 km north.

Every location is on NSW courts we attend.

What clients say

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Moruya drink driving FAQs

When does Moruya Local Court sit?

On the first, second and third Friday after the first Monday of each month, according to the official list.

I'm on my P plates and blew 0.03. What range is that?

Special range for a learner or provisional driver, with 6 months' automatic disqualification if convicted.

I drive a truck for work. What is my limit?

Under 0.02 while driving a heavy vehicle; 0.02 to under 0.05 is special range.

Is the interlock compulsory for high range?

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

Is there a work licence in NSW?

No.

Does a penalty notice count 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 (Moruya) — 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.

Moruya Local Court — court details

Moruya Local Court

Street: Vulcan Street, Moruya NSW 2537
Postal: PO Box 33, Moruya NSW 2537
Phone: 1300 679 272
Registry hours: Registry 9.30am – 1.00pm and 2.00pm – 3.30pm; telephone 8.30am – 4.30pm
Days open: First, second and third Friday of the month after the first Monday
Facilities: Audio visual link (AVL) facilities available

➜ 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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