QUEENSLAND

Alpha DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Alpha Magistrates Court, Emerald Magistrates Court and Barcaldine Magistrates Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges in the Central West and Central Highlands. Alpha Magistrates Court is listed by Queensland Courts at Milton Street, Alpha, sits periodically and is served from the Emerald registry. We assist clients at Alpha, Emerald and Barcaldine Magistrates Courts by appearing at court mentions, guilty pleas and sentencing hearings, preparing comprehensive sentencing submissions and character reference material, advising on compulsory licence disqualification periods and mandatory alcohol interlock rules under Queensland law, and preparing section 87 restricted work licence and special hardship order applications.

  • Court status: Alpha Magistrates Court (Milton Street) sits periodically and is served from the Emerald registry, (07) 4843 9300. Your notice names your court.
  • Nearest listed courts: Barcaldine (about 138 km, a circuit court run through Longreach) and Emerald (about 155 km).
  • Law: Queensland Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995. A disqualification is certain on a guilty plea, and a work licence is possible only in limited cases.

Queensland law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

General image of a sandstone State Courts building entrance – not an Alpha courthouse – with the Boorman Lawyers logo and phone number 1300 941 900

General image – not this courthouse.

What's on this page

Where will an Alpha matter be heard?

Alpha sits on the Capricorn Highway between Emerald and Barcaldine. Queensland Courts lists Alpha Magistrates Court at Milton Street, Alpha, with registry enquiries and filing handled by the Emerald registry ((07) 4843 9300). The court sits periodically rather than every week, and its sitting dates are not shown in the 2026 Magistrates Court calendars. The answer for you is on your paperwork. Your Notice to Appear, or bench charge sheet, names the court and the date. That is where you must appear, and the Emerald registry can confirm the listing.

The nearest listed courts

Court How it runs Contact From Alpha (approx.)
Barcaldine Circuit court on set dates. The registry and files are run through Longreach (07) 4568 9300 (Longreach registry) 138 km west
Emerald Courthouse in Egerton Street, business hours Monday to Friday (07) 4843 9300 155 km east
Blackwater – See the directory 228 km
Longreach Registry for the Barcaldine circuit, 91 Galah Street (07) 4568 9300 232 km

If you are unsure which court your matter is listed at, call the registry named on your notice before the date. Do not assume.

Why does the distance matter?

A circuit court sits only on set dates, so an adjournment can push your matter back weeks. Travel to Barcaldine or Emerald for a morning list can mean leaving before dawn. If police suspended your licence until court, you will need someone to drive you there. You will need a driver for the trip home as well, because on a guilty plea in Queensland a disqualification is certain.

What happens to your licence straight away?

Under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 (TORUM), and as explained by Transport and Main Roads:

  • A reading under 0.10: your licence is suspended for 24 hours.
  • A reading of 0.10 or more, failing to provide a specimen for analysis, or a new charge while another drink driving charge is pending: your licence is suspended immediately until the court deals with the charge.

In some cases of immediate suspension, the court can make an order under section 79E allowing you to drive in stated circumstances until the charge is decided. Our special hardship licence guide explains the related orders.

What are the Queensland penalties for a first offence?

Queensland sorts drink driving by reading band, not by "range". These are the first-offence maximums, using the $172.70 penalty unit (from 1 July 2026):

  • Learner, P-plate, probationary or unlicensed driver over zero (no alcohol limit): a fine of up to $3,454 (20 penalty units) or 3 months' jail. You lose your licence for 3 to 9 months, or 1 to 9 months for particular vehicles such as trucks and buses.
  • Open licence, 0.05 up to 0.10 (general alcohol limit): the same maximum fine and jail term, with a shorter 2 to 9 month disqualification.
  • 0.10 up to 0.15 (middle alcohol limit): a fine of up to $4,835 (28 penalty units) or 6 months' jail. You lose your licence for 3 to 12 months.
  • 0.15 or more, under the influence (UIL), or failing to give a specimen: a fine of up to $6,908 (40 penalty units) or 9 months' jail. You lose your licence for a minimum of 6 months, with no upper limit set.

A second offence within 5 years carries heavier penalties. Once you are allowed back on the road, you start on a probationary licence for at least 12 months. Unlike some other offences, a Queensland court cannot avoid the licence loss by declining to record a conviction. More detail is in our Queensland drink driving offences guide and our QLD drink driving penalties guide.

Can you get a work licence?

Only some drivers qualify. Under TORUM s 87, the court must accept 2 things: that you are fit and proper to hold a licence, and that losing it would cause extreme hardship to you or your family by taking away your way of earning an income. Eligibility is the first hurdle. You are excluded if, when you were caught, you were on anything other than an open Queensland licence. You are also excluded if you blew 0.15 or more, were driving as part of your job, or were behind the wheel of a truck, tractor, bus or similar vehicle. A licence suspension, cancellation or disqualification within the previous 5 years, or an earlier drink or drug driving conviction in that time, generally excludes you as well (TMR – restricted licence). Timing is tight. The application is heard after the finding of guilt and before the disqualification is imposed, so the paperwork must be finished before you travel to court. Our DUI restricted work licence guide explains the affidavits.

Will you need an interlock?

Yes, if your reading was 0.10 or more, or you are convicted of UIL, failing to provide a specimen for analysis, dangerous driving while affected by alcohol, or 2 drink driving offences within 5 years (TORUM s 91I). When you return to driving, you may drive only a nominated vehicle fitted with an approved interlock, for a prescribed period of 12 months (s 91N). Servicing can mean long trips from Alpha, so plan ahead. See our QLD alcohol interlock guide.

What about drug driving?

Queensland has separate offences for driving with a relevant drug present and for driving under the influence of a drug. Roadside saliva tests can detect cannabis, methylamphetamine and MDMA after the effects have worn off. Our Queensland drug driving guide sets out the offences and penalties.

How should you prepare?

  1. Check the court and date on your notice, and confirm with the registry if you are unsure.
  2. Complete the Traffic Offenders Program for Queensland and keep the certificate.
  3. If you are eligible for a work licence, prepare Form F3181 and your affidavits, with an employer affidavit or letter.
  4. Collect character references that mention the charge, signed and dated.
  5. Gather evidence of hardship, such as distances, rosters and property or family duties.
  6. Arrange transport to court and back.

Our Queensland DUI court process guide explains the day itself. For statewide information, see Queensland traffic law.

Queensland penalty changes in 2026: check your offence date (law checked 20 Oct 2026).

Offences on or after 31 August 2026: higher maximum fines apply. They are 20 penalty units ($3,454) for the general alcohol limit and no alcohol limit offences, 28 ($4,835.60) for the middle alcohol limit and 40 ($6,908) for driving under the influence of liquor or a drug. A first general alcohol limit conviction (0.05 to under 0.10) on an open licence now carries 2 to 9 months' disqualification. For offences before 31 August 2026 it was 1 to 9 months. Police can now give an eligible first low-range driver on an open Queensland licence an infringement notice of $1,295 instead of a court charge. Unless the driver elects to go to court, a 2-month disqualification follows. It counts as a conviction, and there is no work licence for that period. Drug driving (a relevant drug present) has not changed yet. The maximum is 14 penalty units ($2,417.80) or 3 months, with 1 to 9 months' disqualification on an open licence and 3 to 9 months for learner, P-plate and unlicensed drivers.

Offences on or after 1 December 2026: minimum fines start for drink and drug driving. For example, the minimum is 7.5 penalty units for low range and for drug driving. The drug driving maximum rises to 28 penalty units, and a first offence on an open licence carries 2 to 9 months' disqualification. A new offence of driving with a relevant drug present while over an alcohol limit adds 1 month to the disqualification range.

An offence committed before a change is generally dealt with under the penalties in force when it happened. Sources: TORUM ss 78E, 79, 79B, 79H–79J and 86, as amended by the Queensland Community Safety Act 2024 and the Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026. Penalty unit $172.70 from 1 July 2026.

Alpha drink driving FAQs

Is there a court in Alpha?

Yes. Queensland Courts lists Alpha Magistrates Court at Milton Street. It sits periodically and is served from the Emerald registry. Your notice names the court and date where you must appear.

Who do I call about my court date?

The registry for the court named on your notice. For Barcaldine, that is the Longreach registry on (07) 4568 9300. Emerald's number is (07) 4843 9300.

Can I keep driving until court?

After a reading under 0.10, yes, once the 24-hour suspension ends, unless some other suspension applies. After a reading of 0.10 or more, failing to provide a specimen, or a new charge while another is pending, no. You are suspended until the court deals with the charge.

Will a no-conviction order save my licence?

No. In Queensland, the disqualification applies whether or not a conviction is recorded.

I was driving a farm truck. Can I get a work licence?

No. If you were driving a truck, tractor, bus or other particular vehicle at the time of the offence, you are not eligible.

Courts near Alpha — court details

Barcaldine Magistrates Court

Street
Ash Street, Barcaldine QLD 4725
Postal
PO Box 187, Barcaldine Qld 4725
Phone
(07) 4568 9300 (Longreach registry)
Email
courthouse.barcaldine@justice.qld.gov.au
Registry hours
Circuit court; registry enquiries and filing through Longreach Magistrates Court, 91 Galah Street, Longreach
➜ Get directions

Emerald Magistrates Court

Street
Egerton Street, Emerald QLD 4720
Postal
PO Box 989, Emerald Qld 4720
Phone
(07) 4843 9300
Email
courthouse.emerald@justice.qld.gov.au
Registry hours
Business hours 8.30am – 4.30pm, Monday to Friday
➜ Get directions

Queensland Courts, Magistrates Courts directory (saved 19 Oct 2026) and the 2026 Magistrates Court calendars (checked 20 Oct 2026). Alpha is not listed in either. The Barcaldine directory entry gives 65 Ash Street and (07) 4651 2795; the Barcaldine calendar gives 35 Ash Street and (07) 4650 2795. These are court registry details, not Boorman Lawyers office details.

Enquire about legal representation

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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