NEW SOUTH WALES

Windsor DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Windsor Local Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Windsor Local Court, in the heritage courthouse on the corner of Court and Pitt Streets, hears Hawkesbury drink and drug driving charges Monday to Friday. We assist clients at Windsor 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: Windsor Local Court, Cnr Court and Pitt Streets, Windsor NSW 2756. Phone 1300 679 272. Registry 9am–1pm and 2pm–4pm, Monday to Friday.
Post: PO Box 5, Windsor NSW 2756.
High range, first offence: on-the-spot suspension; 12 months' automatic disqualification (minimum 6); then at least 24 months on an interlock.

New South Wales law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

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General image – not this courthouse.

What's on this page

What happens to a Hawkesbury driver charged with high range?

They lose their licence on the night, are disqualified automatically when convicted, and then drive with an interlock for at least two years. The case diary below follows one invented driver through that process at Windsor Local Court. It is a labelled hypothetical, not a real client, and the figures are drawn from the NSW legislation and the Transport for NSW penalty table. After each entry, a "What if…" note shows how a different charge would change the picture.

The driver: Chris, 41, supervises a turf farm at Wilberforce, has held a full licence for 23 years and has no record. After a family barbecue in South Windsor, Chris drives home along Windsor Road and is stopped at a random breath testing site. The breath analysis at the station reads 0.16.

Diary – night 1: Why could Chris not drive home?

Police issued an immediate suspension notice under s 224 of the Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW). For a reading of 0.15 or more the suspension is almost inevitable, and it runs until the charge is finished in court. Chris also received a court attendance notice for high range PCA, listed at Windsor Local Court about five weeks later. A family member collected Chris from the station.

What if the reading had been 0.06? That is low range. There is usually no roadside suspension, and for a first offence police might issue a penalty notice instead: a fine and a 3-month suspension, with no conviction. Chris could have kept driving to the farm until any court date.

Diary – week 1: Could the suspension be lifted?

Chris asked whether the suspension could be appealed so he could drive to Wilberforce. An appeal to the Local Court is available under s 268, but it succeeds only where the magistrate finds exceptional circumstances. Needing a car for work in a semi-rural area is common in the Hawkesbury and is unlikely to be enough on its own. Any appeal has to be lodged before the charge is heard or withdrawn (s 268(6)), and the magistrate cannot weigh the circumstances of the alleged offence itself (s 268(5)). Chris decided not to appeal and arranged lifts with a co-worker, knowing that the weeks already spent off the road may be taken into account when the disqualification is set. Our page on roadside suspension appeals explains when it can be worth trying.

What if Chris had refused the breath test? A refusal is treated the same as high range for the suspension, the disqualification and the interlock. It cannot be dealt with by penalty notice.

Diary – weeks 2 to 4: What did Chris prepare?

Knowing a plea of guilty was likely, Chris used the weeks before court to gather what a magistrate takes into account when setting the penalty:

enrolled in and completed a traffic offenders program, keeping the certificate;
asked two people who had known Chris for years – a neighbour and a football club treasurer – for references that mention the charge;
obtained a letter from the farm owner explaining Chris's duties and the travel involved;
saw a GP about drinking patterns and kept the letter;
wrote down a transport plan for the disqualification period: co-worker lifts, the bus from Windsor station, and moving start times.

Chris also checked the elements of the charge and whether any defence was open. A breath analysis generally must be done within two hours of driving, under Schedule 3 procedures; both were complied with here. See PCA defences and the elements on NSW drink driving offences.

What if the result had been a positive drug test instead? Presence of THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine is an offence under s 111 without proof of impairment. A first offence carries a 6-month automatic disqualification (minimum 3) and no interlock, and may be dealt with by penalty notice. A failed roadside screen is not proof on its own: the confirmatory analysis must support the charge. See drug driving penalties.

Diary – court day: What did the magistrate have to do?

At Windsor, Chris pleaded guilty. The police facts and Chris's clean record were handed up, followed by the references, the program certificate, the employer letter and the GP letter. The magistrate's choices were limited by the legislation:

Question for the court	What the law says for a first high range offence
Can a conviction be avoided?	Only under s 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW). At 0.16 it is rarely granted, but it is not legally excluded for a first offence
Is disqualification automatic on conviction?	Yes, s 205: 12 months, which the court may reduce to no less than 6
Is an interlock compulsory?	Yes, ss 209–211: at least 24 months after the disqualification, unless a s 212 exemption order is made
Fine and prison?	Up to $3,300 and up to 18 months' imprisonment
Work licence?	Not available in NSW

In this example the magistrate convicted, fined Chris, set a disqualification of 9 months, and made the mandatory interlock order. The months already spent under the roadside suspension were taken into account. For how a plea is run on the day, see the NSW court process guide.

What if it had been Chris's second offence within five years? Section 9 makes it a second offence. For high range, the automatic disqualification rises to 5 years (minimum 2), the interlock to at least 48 months, the fine to $5,500 and the maximum prison term to 2 years. Section 203 would also rule out a second s 10 order for a major offence. See NSW penalties.

Diary – disqualification: Could Chris drive at all?

No. NSW has no work or hardship licence. Driving during a disqualification is a separate offence with its own disqualification and possible imprisonment; see driving while disqualified. Chris kept to the transport plan.

What if the court had made an exemption order? Under s 212 the court can exempt a person from the interlock in limited circumstances, but a longer disqualification applies instead.

Diary – interlock period: What did Chris have to do?

When the disqualification ended, Chris applied for an interlock licence, had an approved device fitted to the car and drove only that car for the 24-month minimum, providing a breath sample each time before starting. Chris's unrestricted licence was restored only after the program was completed. The NSW interlock rules explain costs, breaches and how the period ends.

What if Chris had been at 0.09? That is mid range. There would still be a roadside suspension, a 6-month automatic disqualification (minimum 3) and a compulsory interlock, but for at least 12 months rather than 24. Read s 10 and when it may be open.

Is drink driving the same as DUI in NSW?

Not exactly. "Drink driving" usually means a prescribed concentration of alcohol (PCA) charge under s 110, based on the reading. Driving under the influence (s 112) is based on evidence that you were affected by alcohol or a drug, and a first offence carries the same penalties as high range. The wording on the court attendance notice decides which applies. Other driving charges heard at Windsor are covered on other traffic offences.

What is special about the Windsor courthouse?

Windsor Local Court sits in a heritage courthouse on the corner of Court and Pitt Streets. It was designed by Francis Greenway, extended later by James Barnet, and built in the early 1820s. It remains a working court. Allow time for security and parking on court days, and check the NSW Online Registry for your listing.

What are Windsor Local Court's details?

Cnr Court and Pitt Streets, Windsor NSW 2756. Postal PO Box 5, Windsor NSW 2756. Phone 1300 679 272; fax (02) 4571 6991. Registry 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm; telephone 8.30am to 4.30pm; Monday to Friday. AVL facilities are available.

Which courts are near Windsor?

Mount Druitt drink driving matters – about 17 km south-west.
Penrith DUI charges – about 19 km south-west; the official list shows Penrith closed from 21 December 2026 to 15 March 2027, with matters at Parramatta.
Blacktown Local Court – about 20 km south.

All locations: NSW courts we attend. Questions: NSW traffic law FAQs. Call 1300 941 900 or make an enquiry about legal representation.

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Windsor drink driving FAQs

Is the Windsor example a real case?

No. It is a hypothetical used to explain how NSW law applies.

How long is a first high range disqualification?

Automatically 12 months on conviction; the court may reduce it to no less than 6.

How long is the interlock after a first high range?

At least 24 months, unless an exemption order is made.

Does a failed roadside drug test mean I will be convicted?

No. The confirmatory analysis must support the charge, and the court must find it proved.

Can I drive to work while disqualified?

No. NSW has no work licence.

What are Windsor's registry hours?

9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Phone 1300 679 272.

Sources and date checked

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

Local Court of NSW – Court locations W (Windsor) — 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.

Windsor Local Court — court details

Windsor Local Court

Street: Cnr Court and Pitt Streets, Windsor NSW 2756
Postal: PO Box 5, Windsor NSW 2756
Phone: 1300 679 272
Registry hours: Registry 9.00am – 1.00pm and 2.00pm – 4.00pm; telephone 8.30am – 4.30pm
Days open: Monday to Friday
Facilities: Audio visual link (AVL) facilities available

➜ Get directions

Local Court of NSW, Court locations – W (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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