QUEENSLAND

Caloundra DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Caloundra Magistrates Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Caloundra Magistrates Court at 3 Gregson Place serves the southern Sunshine Coast, from Caloundra and Kawana to the Glass House Mountains hinterland. Criminal and traffic matters are listed at 8.30am on Tuesdays in Court 2 and Thursdays in Court 1. We assist clients at Caloundra Magistrates Court 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: Caloundra Magistrates Court, 3 Gregson Place, Caloundra Qld 4551. Phone (07) 5293 4100. Closes at 4pm on Tuesdays.
Listings (2026 calendar): criminal and traffic callover Tuesdays (Court 2) and Thursdays (Court 1) at 8.30am; long pleas Tuesdays in Court 1.
Travel: if your licence is suspended, you cannot drive yourself to court. Plan another way to get there.

Queensland 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 get to Caloundra Magistrates Court?

The courthouse is at 3 Gregson Place, Caloundra, close to the Caloundra town centre. Plan the trip before the day, because traffic callovers start early.

If your licence is suspended or you have been disqualified, you must not drive to court. Arrange a lift, a taxi or rideshare, or public transport. Being caught driving to court while suspended is a separate charge.
From Kawana, Currimundi or Pelican Waters, allow for morning traffic on Nicklin Way and Caloundra Road.
From Beerwah, Landsborough or the Glass House Mountains, allow extra time and check bus connections in advance if you are not driving.
Arrive by 8.15am for an 8.30am callover, so you have time to find parking, go through the entrance and locate your courtroom.

The registry is open 8.30am to 4.30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, but closes at 4.00pm on Tuesday.

Which day is your matter listed?

According to the court's 2026 calendar:

Listing	Day and time
Criminal and traffic callover	Tuesdays (Court 2) and Thursdays (Court 1), 8.30am
Long pleas	Tuesdays in Court 1, 9.00am
Criminal hearings	Mondays and Fridays, 9.00am
New in-custody arrests	Monday to Friday, 8.45am and 2.00pm

Your Notice to Appear sets the actual date. Courts do not sit on public holidays (the calendar lists 25 and 28 December 2026). If your plea will take time, for example because you are applying for a work licence with affidavits and witnesses, it may need to be listed as a long plea.

What will the Caloundra court decide about your licence?

Every drink driving conviction in Queensland brings a disqualification under section 86 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995. For a first offence the range depends on your reading and licence:

learner, P, probationary or unlicensed, over zero: 3 to 9 months;
open licence, 0.05 to under 0.10: 2 to 9 months;
0.10 to under 0.15: 3 to 12 months, then the interlock;
0.15 or more (UIL): at least 6 months, then the interlock.

The Magistrate considers your reading, how you were driving and the real or potential danger to others. Maximum fines and prison terms are in our QLD drink driving penalties guide, and each offence is explained in our guide to Queensland drink driving offences.

Can you drive for work while disqualified?

Only with a restricted licence under section 87, which is applied for at the sentence hearing. You must hold an open Queensland licence, your reading must be under 0.15, you must not have been driving for work at the time, and you must have no relevant suspension, disqualification or drink or drug driving conviction in the past 5 years (TMR). You must prove extreme hardship to your livelihood and that you are fit and proper. On the Sunshine Coast, people in hospitality, tourism, trades and health work rely on their cars for early or late shifts; the evidence of that is what the application turns on. See our restricted work licence guide.

A special hardship order is a different thing and does not apply to a court-ordered drink driving disqualification. If police suspended your licence on the spot, ask about a section 79E order to drive until the charge is finished, if you are eligible.

When does the interlock apply?

At 0.10 or more, for UIL, for failing to provide a specimen for analysis, and for anyone with two drink driving offences in 5 years (TORUM s 91I). You must drive a nominated vehicle with an approved interlock for 12 months of driving after the disqualification (TMR). Read our QLD alcohol interlock guide for costs and exemptions.

What about drug driving on the southern Sunshine Coast?

A positive roadside saliva test can lead to a charge for driving with a relevant drug present, regardless of whether you felt affected. The penalties and licence rules differ from drink driving; see our QLD drug driving guide. If you think there was a problem with the testing, our QLD drink driving defences guide explains the common issues.

Which other courts serve the Sunshine Coast?

Maroochydore Magistrates Court drink driving – about 16 km north
Nambour DUI matters – about 25 km; a Maroochydore circuit court
Sunshine Coast drink driving courts overview – how Caloundra, Maroochydore, Nambour and Noosa fit together

All other courts are listed in our QLD courts we attend directory.

Practical Video Case Review

Short, no-nonsense insights on what changes outcomes—preparation, timing, materials, and realistic expectations. More on BoormanLawyers.tv .

Boorman Lawyers – DUI Case Review (2016) This outcome was reported in 2016. Queensland drink driving penalties changed for offences committed from 31 August 2026, so the penalties discussed here may not reflect current 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.

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Caloundra drink driving FAQs

What is the phone number for Caloundra court?

The Queensland Courts directory lists (07) 5293 4100 and courthouse.caloundra@justice.qld.gov.au. The postal address is PO Box 250, Caloundra Qld 4551.

Can I drive myself to court if my licence was suspended?

No. If police suspended your licence immediately (for a reading of 0.10 or more, for example), the suspension continues until the charge is finished. Driving to court would be driving while suspended.

My matter is at Caloundra but I live in Noosa. Can it be moved?

Matters are usually listed at the court for the area where the offence happened. Ask your lawyer whether a transfer is possible; it is a matter for the court.

Will I be sentenced on my first Caloundra date?

Often, if you plead guilty at the callover and your material is ready. A work licence application or a longer plea may be given a separate date.

Is a duty lawyer available?

Check with the registry or Legal Aid Queensland before your court date. If you want your own lawyer, it is best to arrange this before the day.

Sources and date checked

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

Queensland Courts – Magistrates Courts directory (Caloundra, Maroochydore, Nambour) — checked 19 Oct 2026
Queensland Courts – Caloundra Magistrates Court 2026 calendar (PDF) — checked 20 Oct 2026
Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 (Qld) – reprint current from 21 September 2026 (ss 79, 79B, 79E, 86, 87, 91I) — checked 20 Oct 2026
Queensland Government (TMR) – Being charged with drink driving — checked 20 Oct 2026
Queensland Government (TMR) – Restricted (work) licence — checked 20 Oct 2026
Queensland Government (TMR) – Alcohol ignition interlocks — checked 20 Oct 2026
Queensland Community Safety Act 2024 (Act No. 45), ss 93–104 – TORUM amendments commenced 31 August 2026 — checked 20 Oct 2026
Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026 (Act No. 23) – assent 21 September 2026; pt 10 div 3 commences 1 December 2026 — checked 20 Oct 2026
TORUM legislative history (commencement of amending Acts) — checked 20 Oct 2026

This page is general information about Queensland law only. It is not legal advice. Every matter turns on its own facts.

Caloundra Magistrates Court — court details

Caloundra Magistrates Court

Street: 3 Gregson Place, Caloundra QLD 4551
Postal: PO Box 250, Caloundra Qld 4551
Phone: (07) 5293 4100
Email: courthouse.caloundra@justice.qld.gov.au
Registry hours: 8.30am – 4.30pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday · 8.30am – 4.00pm Tuesday

➜ Get directions

Queensland Courts, Magistrates Courts directory (saved 19 Oct 2026) and Caloundra Magistrates Court 2026 calendar (checked 20 Oct 2026). These are the court registry's details, not Boorman Lawyers office details. Check your court papers for your listing time and courtroom.

QLD Traffic Law

Choose your QLD traffic law topicQLD

Guides for Queensland traffic law matters.

QLDDrink Driving OffencesRead guide →QLDDrink Driving PenaltiesRead guide →QLDDrink Driving DefencesRead guide →QLDDrug Driving Offences & PenaltiesRead guide →QLDNo Conviction Drink DrivingRead guide →QLDDUI Restricted Work LicenceRead guide →QLDSpecial Hardship LicenceRead guide →QLDAlcohol Interlock LawsRead guide →QLDTraffic Offenders ProgramRead guide →QLDAppeal Immediate DUI Police SuspensionRead guide →QLDDangerous DrivingRead guide →QLDDUI Court Process GuideRead 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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