QUEENSLAND

Childers DUI Lawyers

In shortBoorman Lawyers are experienced, dedicated drink driving, drug driving and DUI lawyers who regularly appear at Childers Magistrates Court and represent clients facing alcohol, drug and serious traffic charges at this courthouse. Childers Magistrates Court, at 67 Churchill Street, is a Bundaberg circuit court that sits about once a month on a Friday. The remaining 2026 dates are 23 October, 13 November and 18 December, with Notices to Appear listed for 9am. We assist clients at Childers 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: Childers Magistrates Court, 67 Churchill Street, Childers Qld 4660. Phone (07) 4326 3801 (calendar) or Bundaberg registry (07) 4326 3800.
  • Sittings (2026 calendar): one Friday a month; remaining 23 Oct, 13 Nov, 18 Dec; NTAs 9am, general callover 9.30am.
  • Licence: disqualification on every conviction (TORUM s 86); interlock from 0.10 (s 91I).

Queensland law · law checked 20 Oct 2026

Childers Magistrates Court building, Queensland, with the Boorman Lawyers logo and phone number 1300 941 900
What's on this page

Which court will hear a Childers drink driving charge?

If your Notice to Appear says Childers, your matter starts at 67 Churchill Street. Childers is a circuit court of Bundaberg: a magistrate comes from Bundaberg one Friday a month. The remaining 2026 sitting dates on the calendar are Friday 23 October, Friday 13 November and Friday 18 December. Notices to Appear are listed for 9am and the general callover, which includes traffic, at 9.30am. In Queensland, a conviction for any drink or drug driving offence means the magistrate must disqualify you from driving (Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 (TORUM), s 86). A reading of 0.10 or more also brings an interlock later, even on a first offence (s 91I). Because Childers sits so rarely, knowing how the circuit works can affect when your matter is finished.

How does the Bundaberg circuit work?

Childers has no resident magistrate. The Bundaberg Magistrates Court calendar includes a "Childers Circuit" row, and the Childers calendar is headed "Bundaberg Circuit Court". On each circuit Friday, the visiting magistrate hears every list in one sitting: arrests and remands, the general callover (traffic, transport and other government matters), Children's Court, domestic violence applications and QCAT applications.

That has practical effects:

  • Only about one chance a month. If your matter is adjourned at Childers, the next Childers date may be four or five weeks away. Some matters may be moved to Bundaberg, which hears traffic every Monday and Friday, to be dealt with sooner.
  • Registry contact. The calendar gives Childers a phone number of (07) 4326 3801 and names Bundaberg (44 Quay Street, (07) 4326 3800) alongside it. The directory lists 4326 3800 for Childers. We have flagged the difference for checking.
  • Contested hearings. A not guilty plea needing witnesses may be listed for a hearing day, which could be in Bundaberg rather than at a monthly Childers sitting.

How far are the nearby courts?

Court Approx. straight-line distance from Childers How it relates to Childers
Bundaberg about 47 km north-east Circuit base; traffic every Monday and Friday at 9am
Maryborough about 50 km south-east Separate court for the Fraser Coast
Hervey Bay about 50 km east Separate court for the Fraser Coast

Distances are approximate. The court on your notice is the one you must attend unless the matter is formally transferred. Charges laid on the Bruce Highway near Howard or Apple Tree Creek can be listed at Childers, Maryborough or Bundaberg depending on police paperwork, so read your notice rather than assuming.

Where do Childers charges come from?

The Childers list draws on a wide rural catchment. Charges listed here can arise from:

Area Roads involved Points to consider
Childers township Churchill Street, the Bruce Highway through town Court is close by; check whether you may drive before the date
Woodgate and the coast Woodgate Road, Goodwood Road Roughly 35 km of rural road to court; arrange transport early
Cordalba, Doolbi and Huxley Cordalba–Childers roads, Bruce Highway Cane and orchard country; rosters may clash with a Friday sitting
Biggenden and the western ranges Isis Highway Further from Bundaberg and Childers; ask about the correct court
Bruce Highway travellers Apple Tree Creek, Howard turn-off, Gin Gin turn-off Interstate and intrastate drivers often live far away; plan how to appear

This list is a guide only. The police officer who issued your notice chose the court, and that choice stands unless the court orders a transfer.

Can you ask to move your matter or appear another way?

If you live in Brisbane, interstate or overseas, or you work away on a roster, travelling to a once-a-month Friday sitting can be hard. Options to raise with the court through a lawyer or the registry include:

  • having a lawyer appear on your behalf, where the court allows it;
  • seeking a transfer to Bundaberg or a court near where you now live;
  • asking whether you may appear by phone or video for a mention;
  • seeking an adjournment to a later circuit date, with reasons.

None of these happens automatically, and each depends on the court's decision. Do not assume a request has been granted until you receive confirmation. If you simply stay away, the magistrate can deal with the charge in your absence, which can include ordering a disqualification you only learn about later, or issue a warrant.

Can you drive to Churchill Street?

Your licence position before court comes from TORUM s 79B:

  • Open licence, reading under 0.10, nothing else pending: a 24-hour suspension, then you may drive until the case is decided.
  • 0.10 or more, a refusal, or another drink driving charge pending: no driving at all until the court decides your charge.
  • Learner, P plate or probationary licence over zero: check the notice from police; stricter rules apply.

Childers has no train station on the North Coast line within walking distance of the court, and long-distance coaches pass through on the Bruce Highway on limited timetables. If you live at Woodgate, Cordalba, Biggenden or on a farm out of town and cannot drive, arrange a lift well before the Friday. Remember that a disqualification usually starts the moment it is ordered.

What does the law say about disqualification?

The magistrate cannot skip the disqualification but can set its length within the range for your offence. For a first offence under s 86:

  • Open licence, 0.05 to under 0.10: at least 2 months, up to 9 months.
  • Open licence, 0.10 to under 0.15: at least 3 months, up to 12 months.
  • Learner, P plate, probationary or unlicensed, over zero: at least 3 months, up to 9 months.
  • Zero-limit open licence holder such as a truck or bus driver, over zero: at least 1 month, up to 9 months.
  • 0.15 or more, under the influence, or failing to supply a specimen: at least 6 months.

A second offence within five years carries longer periods, and a fine is imposed as well. The magistrate must consider the reading and the danger, actual or potential, to the public (s 86(2A)). Fines and repeat periods are on our drink driving penalties page.

Is a work licence possible for a Childers farm or highway worker?

The work licence in TORUM s 87 is narrow, and an application can fail on eligibility before hardship is even considered. The table shows the eligibility questions, all answered as at the date of the offence:

The court asks You are out if
What licence did you hold? It was a learner, provisional or probationary licence, or not a Queensland open licence
What was the charge and reading? 0.15 or more, under the influence, or failing to supply a specimen
What were you driving, and why? A truck, bus or other specified vehicle, or you were driving as part of your work
What is your recent history? A drink driving conviction, or any licence suspension, cancellation or disqualification, in the past five years

Two examples show how this plays out. A seasonal picker on a working holiday visa who drives on an overseas licence does not hold a Queensland open licence and cannot apply. A local orchard supervisor who drove his own car home from the pub at 0.09, with a clean five-year record, may apply, and must then file affidavits proving two things: that losing his licence would cause extreme hardship to him or his family by taking away his means of earning a living, and that he is a fit and proper person to drive. Statements about the distances between blocks, the lack of transport at dawn and why another worker cannot drive him belong in that evidence. A 0.10-plus reading means the work licence comes with an interlock condition (s 91K).

The court decides the application before ordering the disqualification. With only one Childers sitting a month, missing the filing window can mean waiting or being sentenced without it. Our restricted work licence guide and TMR's restricted licence page explain the process. A special hardship licence is for other suspensions, such as demerit points, and is not a way around a court-ordered drink driving disqualification.

What happens with the interlock in a rural area?

Section 91I requires a 12-month interlock period after relicensing if the conviction involved a reading of 0.10 or more, driving under the influence, failing to supply a specimen, or a second drink driving offence within five years. For Childers residents the practical questions are where to have the device fitted and serviced, and whether the household car can carry it. Approved providers operate in larger centres such as Bundaberg and Maryborough, so build servicing trips into your plans. The period must be completed with no failed or missed tests (s 91N), and TMR may grant an exemption only in limited cases, for example where you live in a remote area or have a relevant medical condition. TMR's interlock page and our alcohol interlock page list the details.

How should you prepare for a monthly circuit sitting?

Because there is little room to adjourn, aim to be ready on the first Childers date:

  • read the police facts (QP9) and raise any errors before pleading;
  • obtain your TMR traffic history;
  • collect signed references and an employer letter about your role and travel;
  • complete any course you choose to do, such as one listed on our Traffic Offenders Program page;
  • if a recorded conviction would affect your job, visa or registration, gather evidence of that.

Under s 12 of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 the court may decide not to record a conviction, having regard to the nature of the offence, your character and age, and the effect on your economic or social wellbeing and chances of finding work. The disqualification still applies. See the no conviction drink driving page.

If you dispute the charge, for example whether you were driving, or whether the breath test was done as TORUM s 80 requires, get advice before the first Friday. The drink driving defences page and the drink driving offences guide explain what police must prove.

What happens on the circuit Friday?

Arrive before 9am. All lists share the one sitting, so you may wait while arrests, children's matters and domestic violence applications are dealt with. If you have no lawyer, speak with court staff early. When your matter is called, the prosecutor reads the facts and hands up your traffic history, and you or your lawyer respond and hand up your material. A work licence application is decided first, then the magistrate imposes the fine and disqualification. The court process guide walks through the steps. After court, do not drive until the disqualification ends, then apply to TMR for a new licence, which will be probationary with a zero alcohol limit for at least a year.

What about drug driving and other charges?

Saliva samples are sent for laboratory analysis, so a drug driving Notice to Appear may arrive weeks after the stop. Driving with a relevant drug present (THC, methylamphetamine or MDMA) needs no proof of impairment. Driving under the influence of a drug does, and starts at six months' disqualification for a first offence. Both carry a compulsory disqualification. Your licence position while a drug charge is pending depends on the facts. See the drug driving offences and penalties page. A crash or dangerous manoeuvre can bring further charges; see the dangerous driving page.

Visitors and seasonal workers who have left the district must still deal with the notice. If no one appears, the court can proceed in your absence or issue a warrant. Contact the registry before the sitting date to discuss options. More guides are on the QLD traffic law hub and in the QLD traffic law FAQs.

Childers Magistrates Court details

Street address 67 Churchill Street, Childers Qld 4660
Postal address PO Box 39, Childers Qld 4660 (calendar shows PO Box 908, Bundaberg)
Phone (07) 4326 3801 (calendar); directory lists (07) 4326 3800
Email courthouse.childers@justice.qld.gov.au
Registry hours 8.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm Wednesday
Circuit base Bundaberg Magistrates Court, 44 Quay Street; (07) 4326 3800

Source: Queensland Courts Magistrates Courts directory, checked 19 October 2026, and the Childers 2026 calendar, checked 20 October 2026.

To talk about your Childers matter, call 1300 941 900 or make an enquiry about legal representation.

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.

Childers drink driving FAQs

How often does Childers court sit?

About once a month, on a Friday, as a Bundaberg circuit. The remaining 2026 dates are 23 October, 13 November and 18 December.

What time should I arrive?

Before 9am. The calendar lists Notices to Appear for 9am, with the general callover at 9.30am.

Can my matter be dealt with in Bundaberg instead?

Possibly, if it is transferred. Until then, attend the court named on your notice.

I hold an overseas licence. Can I get a work licence?

No. Section 87 requires a Queensland open licence at the time of the offence.

What is the shortest disqualification for 0.06?

Two months for a first offence on an open licence, with a maximum of nine months.

When do I need an interlock?

After the disqualification, for 12 months, if your reading was 0.10 or more or the conviction was for under the influence, a refusal or a repeat offence.

Childers Magistrates Court — court details

Childers Magistrates Court

Street
67 Churchill Street, Childers QLD 4660
Postal
PO Box 39, Childers Qld 4660
Phone
(07) 4326 3801
Email
courthouse.childers@justice.qld.gov.au
Registry hours
8.30am – 1.00pm and 2.00pm – 4.00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 9.30am – 1.00pm and 2.00pm – 4.00pm Wednesday
Days open
One Friday a month (Bundaberg circuit); remaining 2026: 23 October, 13 November, 18 December; Notices to Appear 9am, general callover incl. traffic 9.30am
➜ Get directions

Queensland Courts, Magistrates Courts directory (saved 19 Oct 2026) and Childers Magistrates Court 2026 calendar (downloaded 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.

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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