NEW SOUTH WALES

Nowra DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Nowra Local and District Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Nowra Local and District Court in Plunkett Street is open weekdays, 9.00am to 4.30pm, and hears Shoalhaven drink and drug driving charges. We assist clients at Nowra 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: Nowra Local and District Court, Plunkett Street, Nowra NSW 2541. Phone 1300 679 272. Registry 9.00am – 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. AVL in court rooms 1 and 3.
Checklist: each document, who prepares it, what it must say, and when to have it ready.
Law: NSW Road Transport Act 2013. Section 10 is barred if you had one for a similar offence within 5 years.

New South Wales law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

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What's on this page

How does a Nowra case come together? A worked example

Hypothetical example – not a real client or case. It shows how NSW law and the paperwork fit together for a Shoalhaven charge. Your own matter will depend on its facts.

Sam, a 34-year-old electrician from Bomaderry with a clean record, is stopped for a random breath test on the way home from a function. The breath analysis reads 0.065, which is low range PCA (RTA s 110). Police issue a court attendance notice for Nowra Local Court rather than a penalty notice.

What Sam faces. A maximum fine of $2,200 and an automatic 6-month disqualification, which the court can reduce to 3 months (s 205). A section 10 order without conviction is possible but never assured (Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 10).

What Sam brings. The police facts, checked against Sam's own account; two references from people who know about the charge; an employer letter explaining call-outs between Nowra, Berry and Jervis Bay; a Traffic Offenders Program certificate; and Sam's own short letter. Each document is covered below.

What the magistrate weighs. The reading, the manner of driving, Sam's record, the guilty plea (s 22) and the evidence of hardship and insight. The decision is the magistrate's.

If the facts were different. At 0.09, mid range PCA, an interlock order would apply on conviction: 3–6 months off the road, then at least 12 months on an interlock. A second offence within 5 years would raise every maximum.

What documents do you need for Nowra Local Court?

Most of a sentencing case is on paper. Here is each document, who prepares it, what it must contain and when to have it ready.

Document	Who prepares it	What it must show	Have it by
Court attendance notice	Police	The charge, section number and court date	You have it already. Keep it safe
Immediate suspension or penalty notice	Police	Whether you can drive before court	Check it the day you get it
Police facts sheet	Police	Their version of the driving, test and reading	Read it as soon as you receive it
Breath analysis certificate or laboratory certificate	Police	The reading or drug detected, and the times	Check it against the facts
Your driving record	Transport for NSW / Service NSW	Prior offences and penalty notices in the past 5 years	2 weeks before court
Traffic Offenders Program certificate	Program provider	Completion of the course	Before the sentence date
Character references (2–3)	People who know you well	That they know about the charge, how they know you, and your character	1 week before court, signed and dated
Employer letter	Your employer	Your role, hours, travel and the effect of losing your licence	1 week before court
Treatment letter	GP, counsellor or treatment service	Assessment, sessions attended and plan	Before the sentence date
Your own letter to the court	You	That you accept responsibility, what you have done since, and your plan	Draft early, finalise the week before
Transport and interlock plan	You	How you will manage disqualification and, for mid range and above, interlock fitting	Before the sentence date

How do you check the police documents?

Start with the charge. Is it novice, special, low, mid or high range PCA (Road Transport Act 2013 s 110), drug presence (s 111), DUI (s 112), or a combined alcohol and drug offence (s 111A)? Then check:

Times. A breath test or analysis generally cannot be required more than 2 hours after the driving (Sch 3 cl 2(2)(a)). A reading inside 2 hours is presumed to be your reading when you drove (Sch 3 cl 31).
Facts. The magistrate sentences on the facts sheet. If it says something you dispute, such as speed, a collision or something you said, raise it before you plead.
Priors. A drink or drug driving penalty notice in the past 5 years makes this a second offence (s 9(2A)).

If something looks wrong, read our drink driving defences guide and get advice before pleading.

What makes a reference useful?

A reference that does not mention the charge carries little weight. A useful reference:

is addressed "To the Presiding Magistrate, Nowra Local Court";
says who the writer is, how long they have known you and in what role;
confirms they know you are charged with the specific offence;
describes your character with examples;
describes any change they have seen since the offence;
is signed, dated and includes contact details.

Avoid templates, exaggeration and anything the writer cannot personally vouch for.

What should the employer letter cover?

The court needs specifics. Shoalhaven jobs can involve driving between Nowra, Bomaderry, Jervis Bay, Berry and the coast. A useful employer letter:

states your role, hours and how long you have worked there;
explains why driving is part of the job, such as site visits, call-outs or transporting tools;
says what would happen during a disqualification, and whether other duties are available;
is on letterhead, signed, and includes contact details.

Remember that NSW has no work licence or hardship licence for drink or drug driving. The letter helps the court decide within the legal range. It cannot create a licence.

Which documents matter most for your charge?

The penalty range shapes what the magistrate needs to read. Figures are first-offence maximums; one penalty unit is $110.

Charge	What is at stake	The paperwork that does the most work
Novice or special range (L/P plates, heavy vehicles, buses, taxis)	Up to 20 PU ($2,200). Default 6-month loss, which can be reduced to 3	Proof of licence stage and why you drive. For heavy vehicle drivers, an employer letter about the class of licence
Low range (0.05 to under 0.08)	The same ceiling and the same 6-month default	References and a program certificate, especially if you are seeking a section 10
Drug present (s 111)	20 PU, 6-month default	A GP or counsellor letter about use, and any prescription
Mid range (0.08 to under 0.15)	20 PU and/or 9 months' jail. Interlock order: 3–6 months off the road, then a year or more with the device	An interlock plan: installer, cost, servicing and the vehicle
High range (0.15+) or alcohol DUI	30 PU ($3,300) and/or 18 months. Interlock order: 6–9 months off, then 2+ years	All of the above, plus evidence that you have addressed the drinking
Mid or high range plus a drug (s 111A)	30 PU and 18 months (mid), or 50 PU and 2 years (high). Mandatory interlock	Treatment evidence covering both alcohol and drugs

Repeat offences within 5 years raise the ceilings. The figures are set out in full in our NSW drink driving penalties guide and the Transport for NSW summary. The ranges are explained in our NSW drink driving offences guide, and drug charges in our NSW drug driving guide.

How should you write your own letter?

Keep it to one page, addressed to the Presiding Magistrate. Cover four things in plain words: what happened, without excuses; why you accept it was wrong; what you have done since, such as the program, counselling or changes to your routine; and how you will make sure it does not happen again. Do not blame the police or the road, and do not claim hardship you cannot prove. If you are represented, your lawyer will usually read it first and decide whether it should be handed up.

What about the licence before and after court?

Before. Police can suspend you on the spot for mid range, high range, DUI, refusal and some other offences (s 224). An appeal needs exceptional circumstances (s 268). See our licence suspension appeal guide.

After. A disqualification starts on the day of conviction unless the court orders a later start (s 207A). For an interlock order, you serve the disqualification, have the device fitted, then hold an interlock licence for the minimum period. If you never join the program, you face a 5-year disqualification. See our NSW interlock guide.

Without conviction. Under section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, the court can dismiss the charge or make a conditional release order without conviction, so the automatic licence consequences do not apply. Not if you had a section 10 for a similar offence in the past 5 years (RTA s 203). See our no conviction guide.

What should you bring on the day?

A folder with the original and two copies of every document in the table, your notices, photo ID, and someone to drive you home. Plunkett Street registry hours are 9.00am to 4.30pm. Arrive early, check the list and be ready to wait. A Traffic Offenders Program certificate should be in the folder if you completed one.

Which courts are near Nowra?

The nearest courts on this site are Kiama (about 33 km), Moss Vale (about 42 km), Milton (about 50 km) and Wollongong (about 58 km). Attend the court named on your notice. See NSW traffic law for statewide information.

What clients say

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Nowra drink driving FAQs

Where is Nowra Local Court and what are its hours?

In Plunkett Street, Nowra NSW 2541. The registry is open 9.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Phone 1300 679 272 (8.30am to 4.30pm). Mail goes to PO Box 579, Nowra NSW 2541.

Do references need to be statutory declarations?

Usually not. Signed and dated letters are common. If you are unsure, ask your lawyer.

What if I haven't received the police facts?

Ask the police, or have your lawyer ask, before you enter a plea. Do not plead guilty without knowing what the facts say.

Can I appear by AVL?

The official list shows AVL in court rooms 1 and 3. Appearing that way needs the court's permission.

How many references should I bring?

Two or three good ones are generally enough. Quality matters more than number.

Sources and date checked

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

Local Court of NSW – Court locations N (Nowra) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) – current version (ss 9, 54, 110, 111, 111A, 112, 203, 205, 207A, 209–212, 224, 268; Sch 3) — checked 20 Oct 2026
Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) – ss 9, 10, 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.

Nowra Local and District Court — court details

Nowra Local and District Court

Street: Plunkett Street, Nowra NSW 2541
Postal: PO Box 579, Nowra NSW 2541
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 rooms 1 and 3

➜ Get directions

Local Court of NSW, Court locations – N (localcourt.nsw.gov.au), saved 19 Oct 2026. Official fax (02) 4480 6970. 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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